Ilya Bryzgalov
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Position | Goaltender |
| Catches | Left |
| Height Weight |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 198 lb (90 kg) |
| NHL Team | Anaheim Ducks |
| Nationality |  Russia |
| Born | June 22, 1980, Togliatti, RUS |
| NHL Draft | 44th overall, 2000 Anaheim Ducks |
| Pro Career | 1999 – present |
| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's Ice hockey | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 2002 Salt Lake City | Ice hockey | |
Ilya Bryzgalov (Russian:Илья Николаевич Брызгалов) (b. June 22, 1980 in Togliatti, Russia) is a professional ice hockey goaltender. He was selected in the second round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, 44th overall, by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He was a member of the 2002 Russian Olympic team, being awarded a bronze medal. Bryzgalov also made the majority of the starts for the Russian squad at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, playing in 240 minutes and recording a 2.34 GAA in three games.
Contents |
[edit] Career
Ilya started his professional career in Russian hockey league in 1999. He was "rented" to second-league team (which used to be a usual practice for rookie players in Russia), HC Spartak Moscow but soon was spotted by his main team, Lada Togliatti. Bryzgalov played two seasons there, but decided to break the contract because of some conflicts with team management. Many Russian teams tried to compete for him after that incident, but Ilya decided to try his luck overseas.
Bryzgalov has spent the majority of his North American career with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the AHL, although he has seen some limited time in Anaheim. Long considered to be the future goaltender for the Ducks, Bryzgalov's future role with the big club was likely compromised somewhat with the outstanding performance of goaltending teammate Jean-Sebastien Giguere in the 2002-03 playoffs. Giguere led the Ducks to the Stanley Cup Finals where they lost in seven games to the New Jersey Devils and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP. As a result, the team chose to allow Bryzgalov to develop in Cincinnati, where he could adjust to the idiosyncrasies of the North American game, and become better prepared for duties at the NHL level, while also receiving the majority of the starts and significant playing time.
[edit] Scouting report
Bryzgalov possesses immense size for a goaltender and is an imposing presence in the net, standing 6'3 and weighing in at 198 pounds. Utilizing this great size and goaltending instincts to his advantage, Bryzgalov displays a solid blocker and quick glove hand. These assets are complemented a wealth of experience -- particularly at the international level -- in key big-game situations. It is hoped by Ducks brass that this added experience has allowed Bryzgalov to mature and develop a stronger composure between the pipes. For the 2005-06 NHL Season, he is slated to play back up to Jean-Sebastien Giguere in the big league, and will be eased slowly into the starting reins should Giguere's contract become too large for the small-market Ducks to afford.
[edit] Present status
Bryzgalov is known among The Ducks to bring humor the locker room. "He always has a smile on his face." Says Correy Perry. A right wing for The Ducks.
As mentioned, Bryzgalov is backing up Giguere at the NHL level for Anaheim. However, injuries to Giguere have allowed Ilya to play more games than he otherwise would have and he has responded to this challenge with strong results. In 26 games (as of February 25, 2006), Bryzgalov has 11 wins and 11 losses with one tie, an impressive 2.53 GAA, and a strong .912 save percentage. Although he has responded to the starting role with significant success thus far, Ilya will nevertheless need to continue to improve his below-average agility, and work on developing a greater stamina should he wish to become a regular-starter at the NHL level.
Bryzgalov made three starts and one relief appearance for the Ducks in their first-round playoff series against the Calgary Flames. In Game 1 he filled in for a dehydrated Jean-Sebastien Giguere, taking a 2-1 overtime loss. He relieved Giguere in Game 5, and stopped all 19 shots he faced. He took over the starting job for Games 6 and 7 of the series, winning 2-1 in Game 6 and recording a shutout in the decisive Game 7.
Bryzgalov started Game 1 of the second round against the Colorado Avalanche, and recorded his second consecutive shutout as the Ducks won 5-0. Bryzgalov's consecutive shutouts were the first for a rookie goaltender in the NHL playoffs since Frank McCool achieved the feat in 1945. Bryzgalov tied McCool's rookie record of three consecutive playoff shutouts when he blanked the Avalanche yet again in Game 2, as the Ducks won 3-0. Currently, he is the 2nd all time playoff shutout streak leader, the highest rookie, and the highest in the modern era. Only one other goalie in recent times has their name on that list, albeit a few spaces lower, that being J.S. Giguere, who accomplished his own feat in the 2002–2003 playoffs.
But in Round 3 against the Edmonton Oilers, everything went wrong. The Oilers took Games 1 and 2 easily, both by scores of 3-1. Bryzgalov allowing 2 goals. 1 on empty net. Then in Game 3, Bryzgalov let in three shots in a 2 minute eleven second span to make the score 4-0 Edmonton. The Ducks tried to fight back with 4 more goals, but the final score that night was 5-4 Edmonton. It was Byrzgalov's last game of the playoffs before being replaced by J.S. Giguere for the rest of the series. The Oilers won the series easily, 4 games to 1.
There is much Debate about whether or not the third round of the 2006 playoffs were Bryzgalov's fault. "The Problem isn't Bryz, it's Roloson." said Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer. (Roloson being The goalie for the Oilers.) "Although he gave up some bad goals, he made more nice saves." Said teammate Teemu Selanne.
Despite his playoff run, in the month of October Bryzgalov had played significantly less games than Giguere, and had been pulled from two of his five starts. Bryzgalov has also made statements regarding Anaheim Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, saying he believes Carlyle has no confidence in him. Bryzgalov was serveing relief when Giguere was injured. He is now once again backing up.
[edit] Movements
- June 24, 2000 - Drafted by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 2nd round, 44th overall.
