This Week in Hockey is a weekly column in which assistant blogger Michael Spinner (@MichaelSpinner) shares and discusses the major storylines in the National Hockey League from the past week.
Breaking down Ilya Bryzgalov
On June 6, 2011 the Philadelphia Flyers acquired the rights to goalkeeper Ilya Bryzgalov, and promptly signed him to a nine-year, $51 million contract. For the Flyers, the move seemed to be a transaction that could provide Philadelphia with their missing link to a Stanley Cup Championship. Eight months later, after some erratic play and even more erratic behavior, the only thing for certain in Philly is that the man they signed to this massive contract is merely a missing link.
Let’s call a spade a spade, the Flyers are in good shape as a team, they will be in the playoffs, and they are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. When Bryzgalov is sharp, this is a team that is very difficult to beat. Has Bryzgalov been a complete bust? It’s hard to say that when...
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