Saturday, November 17th, 2007 by Adam Wagner
Why The Penguins Should Claim Ilya Bryzgalov
Yesterday morning, the Anaheim Mighty Ducks placed goalie Ilya Bryzgalov on waivers, 
meaning that any team in the league can pick up the 27-year old netminder before this morning, when he will be sent to the minor leagues if he is unclaimed. There is virtually no chance that Bryzgalov will clear waivers, which the Ducks’ own press release basically admits. With his career numbers of 2.48 goals against and .908 save percentage, Bryzgalov is an experienced and serviceable NHL goalie, in other words, just the type of player that our very own Pittsburgh Penguins could use immediately.
As has been stated before, Marc-Andre Fleury and Dany Sabourin are not nearly
experienced enough. Fleury is the same sometimes brilliant, sometimes awful goalie that he has been during his entire career in Pittsburgh. Sabourin is still an unknown entity, but he appears as if he is the type of goalie who will probably not make many spectacular saves, but will make most of the ones that he is supposed to. This bipolar goalie tandem does not appear to have the potential to carry the Penguins deep into the playoffs, which should undoubtedly be their goal this year.
Bryzgalov would represent a steadying hand on the goalie situation, as Michel Therrien would still be able to play the hot hand, be it Bryzgalov, Sabourin, or Fleury (who would remain the starter most of the time). Also, the presence of a veteran in the goalie corps appears to have a good influence on Fleury. Jocelyn Thibault, for instance, was able to step in and provide a known entity when Fleury was going through his typical struggles last season. The presence of a proven backup goalie would make the situation much better when, not if, Fleury enters another decline on his typical roller coaster ride through the season.
Also, Bryzgalov is a proven playoff performer, as he has nine playoff victories in his career and posted three consecutive shutouts (248 minutes without letting up a goal) in the 2006 playoffs. Having an asset like that would be invaluable in the spring, as Bryzgalov is not only used to playing in a tandem, but is excellent at it. He understands that he must step up when he is called on and can do so when there is pressure, pushing both himself and his teammates (hopefully Fleury, but, in the past, J.S. Giguere . . . another French Canadian) to a higher level of play.
Lastly, Bryzgalov has the remainder of this season left on a two-year contract that he signed before last season and would only represent about a $900,000 hit to the cap. Ray Shero could definitely deal with this price, as Bryzgalov not only represents a minimal cap hit, but also a player who would want to prove himself for his turn at free agency and the potential wealths that come with it.
For that small of a sum, a potentially topflight goalie is always worth the bargain, particularly when he can serve as a 1b goalie, a mentor, and a steadying presence not only to other young goalies but to the team as a whole.
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