226 replies to this topic

[bryzfan1]

Bryzgalov shines in his first start for the Phoenix Coyotes, shutting out the LA Kings 1-0!

[Just Duckie]

It's pretty amazing that at 9:00 am this morning he didn't know for sure where he was playing, and then just a few short hours later he's in net for Phoenix and has a great game. What a pro! Congratulations to Bryz.

[Duckbill]

It couldn't have hurt that much that he had to drive barely an hour or so to meet up with his new teammates, If I had known I might have even tried to go!

Phoenix is close enough Bryz might not have to even change residences if he didn't want to.

[Reb]

Phoenix is close enough Bryz might not have to even change residences if he didn't want to.

You got that right for sure. Although my nephew seems to like that desert air.

Bryz captured a sweet win for the Coyotes, this time. I wish him nothing but good things, with the exception of when he plays against us.

[socalcustoms]

It couldn't have hurt that much that he had to drive barely an hour or so to meet up with his new teammates, If I had known I might have even tried to go!

Phoenix is close enough Bryz might not have to even change residences if he didn't want to.

He won't move yet. It would be stupid since he will be a Free Agent this summer.

He'll move after he knows where his destination is for the next 2 or more years.

[DropThePuck]

Congrats Bryz and best wishes!


Phoenix Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, left, of Russia blocks a shot by Los Angeles Kings' John Zeiler during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007. Former Ducks goalie Ilya Bryzgalov was claimed by Phoenix last night.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


Los Angeles Kings' Dustin Brown, left, battles Phoenix Coyotes' Radim Vrbata of the Czech Republic, for the puck during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Los Angeles,Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

[DropThePuck]

"When I walked into the locker room, my new teammates were so excited to see me and made me feel like I had always been here," said Bryzgalov, who played his first 69 regular-season NHL games with Anaheim and won a Stanley Cup ring last season as Jean-Sebastien Giguere's backup.

Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky was impressed by how well the 27-year-old Russian played under the circumstances.

"He gets a call, I guess probably two minutes after nine today, saying that we got him - and another call five minutes later from me, saying `You're going to play at 1 o'clock.' So I knew it was probably going to be a hard day for him and emotional day because 24 hours before he didn't know what team he was going to end up with," Gretzky said.

"We were pretty excited about it because we'd seen him play a lot and we knew he was coming from a really good team and a really good organization," Gretzky added. "The Ducks did him a nice favor to get him a chance to play a lot. He won a championship and learned a lot from a lot of good players. Now he gets an opportunity to make our team better."

<NHL.com link>

[432j]

Bryz captured a sweet win for the Coyotes

Interesting note about that, following the Ducks/Kings game, they were discussing the upcoming schedule for the Kings. Jim Fox (pretty sure I remember that correctly) commented about it being a tough stretch, but that it started with a "winnable game" against Phoenix.

Guess again, Jimbo.

[bryzfan1]

Ilya is the NHL.com's second star of the day...unfortunately, the picture of him shows him in a Duck's uniform!

[MrsBevo]

It takes a while to get a new photo up. Besides, he's still got the same pumpkin pads!

It was really nice to see Bryz get the shut out and continue to annoy the Kings. On the other hand, the Yotes just got a shot in the arm and a boost of confidence. What do you bet there are Kings fans who wished their team was worse in the standings so they could have opted for Bryz? The thought of him in a Kings uniform was a horrible thought, though.

I'm sort of dreading Friday with Bryz and Jiggy facing off against each other. That will seem odd, but it should be a good and lively game.

[bryzfan1]

I'm sort of dreading Friday with Bryz and Jiggy facing off against each other. That will seem odd, but it should be a good and lively game.

The Ducks shouldn't dread Friday...the Yotes don't seem to be able to score goals. They have scored a grand total of two in their last 4 games, and are dead last in the numbers of goals scored so far for the season (42 in 18 games). So, no matter how good their goalie is, they have trouble winning.

[Loz]

He drove to LA and gets a shutout for his new team, congrats

[DropThePuck]

"For the first time in my life, I had a different feeling," Bryzgalov told the Arizona Republic. "I just want to say I appreciate the Anaheim Ducks and General Manager Brian Burke for all he's done for me. He's a great man. He gave me this opportunity.

"I just walked in the locker room, and my new teammates were so excited to see me. I feel like I've always been here."
...
The Ducks figure to see plenty of Bryzgalov, with five more games this season against Pacific Division rival Phoenix.

"That's what you deal with when a player gets traded or players move," Carlyle said. "You end up playing against him. We wish him luck, but not against us."

<link to OCR article posted in Media Roundup>

[DropThePuck]

Ilya is the NHL.com's second star of the day...unfortunately, the picture of him shows him in a Duck's uniform!

{click on image for larger view}

At least Bryz did make it easy for those right coasters to choose him with the early afternoon game time.

[DropThePuck]

Bryzgalov is top dog

“We were pretty excited about it because we’d seen him play a lot and we knew he was coming from a really good team and a really good organization,” Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky said. “The Ducks did him a nice favor to get him a chance to play a lot. He won a championship and learned a lot from a lot of good players. Now he gets an opportunity to make our team better.”

<OC Register print edition>



{click on image for readable version}

[GLOVESAVE35]

"For the first time in my life, I had a different feeling," Bryzgalov told the Arizona Republic. "I just want to say I appreciate the Anaheim Ducks and General Manager Brian Burke for all he's done for me. He's a great man. He gave me this opportunity.

What exactly does he mean by "a different feeling?" That he finally has positive feelings towards Burke, or that he finally knows what it's like to play for a different team, or what???

Regardless, I'm glad he got the SO against the Kings. Nothing like irritating LA fans and taking two points away from their team. Bryz has definitely changed the complexion of the Coyotes and now he gets his chance to prove he can be a number one. I wish him and the Yotes luck except for when it comes to anything having to do with the Ducks.

[MrsBevo]

I'll speculate on "different feeling." For the first time he woke up and realized he's not fighting Giguere for playing time or the number one spot. He's getting a great chance to prove that he is a number one goalie. He's not 1B any more.

[QuacksMeUp]

I'll speculate on "different feeling." For the first time he woke up and realized he's not fighting Giguere for playing time or the number one spot. He's getting a great chance to prove that he is a number one goalie. He's not 1B any more.

It's on average 100 degrees outside.

The Cardinals are next door instead of the Angels.

There are two freeways instead of 30.

Instead of a bulldog behind the bench, there's a legend.

[DropThePuck]

NHL.com poll on the front page:

[bryzfan1]

NHL.com poll on the front page:
"Hpw many games will Bryzgalov win for the Coyotes this year?"

I HATE this kind of question. Bryz...or any goalie..doesn't win games: Goalies try to stop more pucks from going in to the net at their end than go in at the other end. If you are playing on a team that just doesn't have much scoring talent, your win/loss record may suck.

[432j]

I HATE this kind of question. Bryz...or any goalie..doesn't win games: Goalies try to stop more pucks from going in to the net at their end than go in at the other end. If you are playing on a team that just doesn't have much scoring talent, your win/loss record may suck.

I couldn't agree more.

I think those expectations of him are totally unreasonable considering who else is on the ice.

Giving the Coyotes an opportunity to win is one thing. Winning for them is another ... unless he starts scoring goals himself at a point-a-game pace.

[Reb]

I HATE this kind of question. Bryz...or any goalie..doesn't win games: Goalies try to stop more pucks from going in to the net at their end than go in at the other end. If you are playing on a team that just doesn't have much scoring talent, your win/loss record may suck.

Yes, I agree. However, consider the personalities that are apt to respond to a poll like this. Personages that, perhaps, do not consider other nuances of the game.

[DropThePuck]

"Not sad. It was a great time in Anaheim, but it's time to build something new," he said, "help build this great, young organization."
...
His phone was busy after the Ducks put him on waivers, which was arguably the most dramatic move of this young NHL season. Destination, unknown, made it a long day for Bryzgalov, who didn't skate Friday.

"I tried not to think about it," he said. "Lots of people were calling me, 'Where are you going? Where are you going?' "

<LAT link>

[Dark Knight]

...but now he's the enemy and all kind feelings go out the window. Wishing you a horrible game on Friday, Bryz

[ladiesandgentlemen]

I think it would be wonderful for Bryz's legend to be that he saved the job of hockey's greatest legend!


... but that the Dogs still couldn't beat the Ducks.