Agent, Flyers refute Bryzgalov agreement report

Ritch Winter, the agent for goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, refuted a blog item by Brian Stubits on CBSSports.com that the Flyers and Bryzgalov had reached a contract agreement.

Said Winter, "I'm not going to respond to anything. They can write whatever they like. I've been watching laughingly for two weeks as people make up stuff. I don't care. It's not my job to clarify what's in the newspapers. I'm just not commenting. I never will because it's never productive. Then I have to deal with you, and then I have to deal with the next guy who wants me to comment on what he just said.

"We have not got a deal. Period. And we're not commenting until we do."

The Flyers also denied the report that a deal had been reached with the Russian goaltender who turned 31 on Wednesday.

"Rumors are rumors," the Flyers said in a statement. "We are continuing to try and reach an agreement with Ilya, but it is safe to say that we are not close to achieving this."

Bryzgalov recorded seven shutouts and had a 2.48 goals-against average in 68 games for the Phoenix Coyotes last season.

Here is Stubits' report:

The Philadelphia Flyers identified the goalie they wanted, went and got him, and now have apparently signed him.

According to Nick Kypreos of Hockeycentral, Ilya Bryzgalov and the Flyers have agreed in principle to a long-term contract. But the deal cannot be made official until the Flyers have fit all the numbers under the new cap of $64 million. So look for GM Paul Holmgren to make things work by sending somebody (or somebodies) out of town.

At this point, the numbers on the deal aren't being reported; however, it was thought Bryzgalov was seeking a contract that would pay him about $7 million, which we addressed in the Morning Skate with a bit of an Excuse me?!? Bryzgalov is very good, but he's not highest-paid goalie good.

Last season for the Coyotes, Bryzgalov was 36-20-10 with a 2.48 GAA and .921 save percentage. In the playoffs, he and the Coyotes struggled to the tune of a sweeping exit to Detroit in the first round.