THE MINNESOTA Wild traded a fourth-round draft pick to the Edmonton Oilers for goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov yesterday, one day before the NHL deadline for dealing.
The 33-year-old Russian, who was bought out by the Flyers after last season, had a 5-8-5 record in 20 games for the Oilers this season with an ugly 3.01 goals-against average and he's on a 1-year contract, allowing the Wild to acquire him at relatively low cost.
The pick sent to Edmonton was originally acquired last year from Buffalo in the trade that brought first line right wing Jason Pominville to Minnesota.
Rookie Darcy Kuemper has started 15 straight games in goal for the Wild, so Bryzgalov is more for insurance with Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding not at full strength. Backstrom has been bothered by injuries all season, and the 36-year-old has a career-worst 3.02 goals-against average over 21 games.
Harding was superb early in the season, but has not played at all in 2014 due to illness related to medication for multiple sclerosis.
Bryzgalov has 38 games of playoff experience over five postseasons with Anaheim, Phoenix and Philadelphia, including three stellar starts against the Wild in the Western Conference quarterfinals in 2007 for Anaheim.