Phoenix trade Ilya Bryzgalov to Philadelphia

Phoenix Coyotes general manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have traded the negotiating rights of goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to the Philadelphia Flyers. Instead Phoenix will obtain Philadelphia’s third round choice in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, future considerations and forward Matt Clackson (whose contract will expire June 30, 2011).

«After several discussions with Ilya and his agent, it became very clear to us that we were not in a position to sign Ilya to a long-term contract. We will now focus our efforts on adding another goaltender to our roster for the upcoming season,» stated Maloney according to the Coyotes’ official website.

Bryzgalov will become a free agent on July 1, 2011. Last season he won 36 of 68 regular matches in the NHL with a goals against rate of 2.48 goals per game and save percentage of 0.921. In the play-offs he was defeated four times in four games, missing 4.36 goals per game and saving 87.9 percent of shots.