Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Ilya Bryzgalov could soon be returning to
the NHL, as the veteran goaltender joined the Anaheim Ducks on a professional
tryout Wednesday.
The Ducks presently have two of their three netminders sidelined, with rookie
John Gibson expected to be out until at least mid-December due to a groin
injury he sustained in early November. Jason LaBarbera, who was called up from
the minors after Gibson went down, broke a bone in his hand in Saturday’s game
at San Jose and will miss the next 2-to-3 weeks.
Bryzgalov was not re-signed by the Minnesota Wild during the offseason. The
34-year-old started eight of the Wild’s 13 games in last year’s Stanley Cup
playoffs, compiling a 3-6-0 record with a 2.63 goals-against average and one
shutout in nine overall postseason outings.
The well-traveled goaltender also began last season out of the NHL before
signing with Edmonton in November. Bryzgalov was later traded by the Oilers to
Minnesota on March 4.
Over 32 overall games with the Oilers and Wild last season, Bryzgalov posted a
12-9-8 record with a 2.68 GAA and four shutouts.
Bryzgalov originally entered the NHL with the Ducks in 2001 and spent parts of
five seasons with Anaheim before being waived in November of 2007. He was the
backup goaltender on the Ducks’ 2006-07 Stanley Cup champion team.
The Ducks also announced on Wednesday that defenseman Eric Brewer will be out
4-to-6 weeks after breaking a bone in his foot Monday against Boston. The 16-
year veteran was in just his second game with Anaheim after being acquired in
a trade with Tampa Bay last week.
