After an injury to goaltender John Gibson, the Anaheim Ducks are reportedly on the verge of signing Ilya Bryzaglov to a tryout deal that will likely result in a contract for the 34-year-old netminder.
Just days after Martin Brodeur successfully parlayed a tryout deal into a shot back in the NHL, it appears Ilya Bryzgalov is set to do the same.
It has been reported that Bryzgalov will sign a tryout with the Anaheim Ducks as early as this afternoon.
Bryzgalov, 34, is currently an unrestricted free agent and according to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun the deal will “likely” end up with the eccentric netminder signing a deal with the Ducks.
The signing comes on the heels of Ducks goaltender John Gibson going down with a groin injury and Jason LaBarbera sidelined with a broken hand, two more injuries in a long line of ailments that has crippled the Ducks defensively. Already without several key defenders, the deal will in all likelihood see Bryzgalov backing up Frederik Andersen as he attempts to lead the Ducks.
In 32 appearances last season between the Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild, the Russian goaltender posted a 12-9-8 record, .909 save percentage, and 2.68 goals-against average.
Bryzgalov’s career began in Anaheim, where he was a member of the Ducks from 2001 until early in the 2007-08 season, when the Ducks traded the netminder to the Phoenix Coyotes.