No agreement, but Bryzgalov and Flyers to talk again
Star free-agent goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, who arrived in Philadelphia on Wednesday, left town yesterday without a contract. Both sides negotiated - after Bryzgalov met with Flyers coach Peter Laviolette, goaltending coach Jeff Reese, general manager Paul Holmgren and team president Peter Luukko - and have agreed to pick up talks next week.
Star free-agent goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, who arrived in Philadelphia on Wednesday, left town yesterday without a contract.
Both sides negotiated - after Bryzgalov met with Flyers coach Peter Laviolette, goaltending coach Jeff Reese, general manager Paul Holmgren and team president Peter Luukko - and have agreed to pick up talks next week.
Holmgren issued this statement: "We have spoken with Ilya and his agent Ritch Winter about many different scenarios. As for now, we both know each other's position and have agreed to speak again next week.
"There will be no further comment at this time."
That is to say, the Flyers have seen Bryzgalov's demands - which have been reported as lofty since the Phoenix Coyotes dealt his rights to the Flyers on June 7 - and need at least the weekend to think about how to proceed.
Bryzgalov reportedly has been seeking a 6-year deal worth close to $6 million per season, which would chew up nearly 10 percent of the Flyers' entire salary cap.
The Flyers have until July 1 to wrap up a deal with Bryzgalov before he is free to negotiate with all 28 other teams. Few teams, though, appear to be in the market for a big-name goaltender.
The Flyers would have liked to have had a deal signed and delivered before Friday's Entry Draft kicks off in St. Paul, Minn., as they will need to shed salary in order to afford Bryzgalov.
The Flyers have nearly $59 million committed to players for next season and the salary cap is expected to increase from $59.4 million to around $63.5 million.
Technically, no deal between the Flyers and Bryzgalov could be inked at this point anyway, as the 2011-12 salary cap numbers have not yet been released from the NHL and the buyout window for players has yet to begin. If the Flyers wanted to sign Bryzgalov next week, a trade would have been needed to be made first in order to stay clear of the league's tagging rule.
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