The Ilya Bryzgalov Watch is on.
How much we actually get to see or hear about is another story.
Sometime today, the Russian goalie will make an appearance at Skate Zone to meet with the Flyers coaches and other staff members.
Because of the Phillies afternoon matinee, it is believed Bryzgalov was to meet with club chairman Ed Snider and team president Peter Luukko in the morning, prior to the game, to avoid traffic getting in and out of Wells Fargo Center.
So, Bryzgalov would be coming directly here from Philadelphia.
The Flyers and agent Ritch Winter are keeping a low profile on this. I understand that for two reasons.
Last summer, the Flyers traded for the rights of both Dan Hamhuis and Evgeni Nabokov in June. They even had a conference call with Hamhuis. By the draft, negotiations with Hamhuis had gone no where and they traded his rights to PGH.
After announcing they got Nabby's rights at the Draft, the talks with Don Meehan went nowhere and the goalie is now more or less in limbo since he won't report to the Isles.
The point is, the Flyers had two celebrated rights' acquisitions and failed to sign either. Because of that, GM Paul Holmgren is likely not going to shed any light on the talks with Winter until a deal is done or both sides part.
What will be interesting is how the Flyer coaches and others feel about Bryzgalov - assuming they have something to say.
Today and Friday, he is expected to make the rounds with the Flyers.
My personal feeling is that you don't often get Winter to come into your town to do a deal. If the Flyers are going to sign Bryzgalov, they need to make significant progress by Friday.
If Winter leaves this weekend and both sides have accomplished nothing, then I feel it's game over. Progress needs to be made.
Holmgren did say earlier this week that NO progress had been made on the phone in the past week.
We'll see what happens.
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