|
Can Bryzgalov Become a Better Teammate? |
|
|
|
|
|
The number one thing to keep an eye on when Ilya Bryzgalov joins the Edmonton Oilers is NOT his ability to stop the puck. Even during his two tumultuous years in Philadelphia, he had stretches where he was a very good goaltender.
It's easy to forget now that Bryzgalov started out his Philadelphia career with three straight impressive wins against the defending champion Bruins and Tim Thomas (a 2-1 win), the eventual Eastern Conference champion Devils and Martin Brodeur (a shutout win) and the defending Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks and Roberto Luongo.
It's easy to forget that Bryzgalov was NHL player of the month in March 2012, setting a new Flyers franchise record shutout streak and flashing the form that had once made him a Vezina Trophy finalist in Phoenix. A late season chip fracture in his foot -- which he returned from ahead of schedule -- set him back at the worst possible time. He wasn't stellar but he was better than Marc-Andre Fleury in the Flyers upset of pre-playoff Cup favorite Pittsburgh in a high-scoring first round series. Bryz actually played well (especially in Game 2) of Philly's five-game loss to New Jersey in round two.
It is easy to forget that Bryzgalov was one of the few bright spots for Philadelphia in the early weeks of the lockout shortened year as well. His play slipped thereafter, but very little of the team's early struggles were because of the goaltending.
That is not to say that Bryzgalov did not have plenty of inconsistency and self-made on-ice issues in Philly. My only point is that there WERE times where he played at a high level, and I have little doubt once he still do so once he gets back into game-ready shape.
The bigger issue with Bryzgalov is how good of a teammate he will be in Edmonton.
Forget about the goofiness of 24/7 -- which was a major distraction and a negative turning point in Philly from which he never really recovered. Forget his relationship with the Philadelphia media, which started out fine and then soured. None of that stuff matters anymore.
What matters is whether he will alienate teammates by doing things on the ice and especially in the locker room that are counterproductive to a team atmosphere. Too often, he has done things that make teammates NOT want to sacrifice themselves physically or emotionally on his behalf.
Although none of us are privy to locker room dynamics, there are broad hints from former teammates in all of his previous NHL stops that he threw players on his team -- especially his defensemen -- under the bus on a regular basis and was too often a negative presence rather than a supportive one. A pair of former Phoenix teammates publicly hinted at those sorts of things after his departure from the Coyotes, and Philadelphia players pretty much had the same experience during his stint with the Flyers.
Will Bryzgalov complain when screened shots go in or deflection goals are scored against him? Will he start to clash with his head coach? Will he resist suggestions to work on his own weaknesses, such as subpar puckhandling?
Right now, the Oilers are a fragile team that is struggling defensively as well as in goal. With no disrespect intended to Devan Dubnyk, Bryzgalov is probably an upgrade on the ice. After the honeymoon period is over, it will be up to Bryzgalov himself in the attitude he displays whether his on-ice abilities will will translate to him being part of the solution or an entirely new headache for the team.
Join the Discussion:
»