Apr 5, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild goalie
Ilya Bryzgalov(30) in the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota Wild wins 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Ilya Bryzgalov has provided some great sound bytes throughout his career, we take a look at the best
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Yesterday the Anaheim Ducks announced that they signed goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to a one-year contract. For Bryzgalov it is a return to the franchise that selected him 44th overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Bryzgalov appeared in 69 games for the Ducks and was a member of the 2007 Stanley Cup championship team. The following season the Ducks offered a four-year extension to Jean-Sebastian Giguere and acquired Jonas Hiller, so Bryzgalov was placed on waivers and claimed by the Phoenix Coyotes. It wasn’t until his tenure with the Philadelphia Flyers and HBO’s 24/7 that Bryzgalov and his “unique” personalty took center stage.
Pulled down by the weight of his contract, Bryzgalov’s time in a Philly was a complete failure and he went from being one of the highest paid goaltenders to trying out for the ECHL’s Las Vegas Wranglers. Last season he split time with the Edmonton Oilers and the Minnesota Wild. Perhaps a return to his roots and a chance to prove himself in Anaheim is what Bryzgalov needs.
With the return from “Universe” to the NHL, I thought today would be a good day to take a look at the best Ilya Bryzgalov off-ice moments. Some have called him a distraction, and to those people I have to ask, “why you heff to be mad?”
The Universe
This is the moment in HBO’s 24/7 that Bryzgalov earned the nickname “Universe”. We’ve heard hockey players talk about many things, but I think this is the first (and likely last) that a NHL players channels his inner Carl Sagan and discusses his feelings about why we are all here. Deep stuff man. Deep stuff.
That hot blonde Husky
If the whole universe thing wasn’t enough, Bryzgalov followed that conversation up with an awkward exchange with his team mates about how his husky is like a “hot blonde”.
Great News, Even Better News
This one shows how bad the situation had gotten in Philly, but it’s also classic Bryzgalov. You can pretty much see the reporter’s eyes light up as Bryzgalov announces, “I have great news and even better news”. We give NHL players grief for not speaking their mind and what we got out of Bryzgalov here is complete honesty – I’m not starting, which means we have a chance to win. Classic.
Tigers
The moment where Bryzgalov taught us the basics of Chinese law and the penalty of killing a tiger.
Bear in the forest
Where Bryzgalov reminds us that he isn’t afraid of anything…well not exactly, there are those bears in the forest.
Why you heff to be mad?
Likely the most famous clip of Bryzgalov (with the exception of the Universe segment) – this one dates back to his days with the Ducks.