Ilya Bryzgalov accepts tryout offer from Wild
With news of the Minnesota Wild losing projected No. 1 goalie Josh Harding indefinitely with a fractured foot, the team wasted little time in bringing in some goaltending help. Ilya Bryzgalov has agreed to a professional tryout contract with the Wild and will be with the team when they open camp.
Bryzgalov was acquired by the Wild at the trade deadline last season and went 7-1-3 with a 2.12 goals-against average in 12 regular-season appearances with the team during its push for the playoffs. He also appeared in nine playoff games, where he went 3-6 with an .885 save percentage and 2.63 goals-against average.
The 34-year-old was not offered a new contract by the Wild or anyone else after last season.
Bringing in Bryzgalov on a PTO gives the Wild some additional options. They already have goaltender Niklas Backstrom under contract and he’d be the No. 1 on the depth chart with Harding out. They also have journeyman minor leaguer John Curry and prospect Johan Gustafsson as their likely minor league options.
The Wild also would have Darcy Kuemper, but he remains unsigned as a restricted free agent and has been embroiled in a complicated negotiation with the club. Kuemper’s camp has even floated that the goaltender is reviewing options in the KHL as well.
The goaltending situation is anything but stable in Minnesota currently. Bringing in a goaltender on a tryout was almost a necessity after the latest development in Harding’s situation.
At least with Bryzgalov the team has some familiarity. Signing him to a tryout deal is pretty much a no-risk situation for the club that is in dire need of some help in net.
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