The day before Wednesdays NHL trade deadline proved to be one that featured an intriguing goalie shuffle.
The Minnesota Wild acquired goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov from the Edmonton Oilers. The Wild sent the Oilers a 2014 fourth-round draft pick in return. This trade is one that could prove critical to the Wild’s post-season success.
Numerous rumors circled all morning that the New Jersey Devils and Minnesota Wild had come to a trade agreement that would send long time Devil Martin Brodeur to Minnesota. That was followed by talk that Minnesota had made a quality offer to acquire recently acquired Buffalo Sabres goalie Jaroslav Halak.
Well, then the bomb dropped that the Minnesota Wild had acquired former Philadelphia Flyers buy-out goalie and current Edmonton Oilers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. “Bryzgalov is a quality veteran that adds depth to the goaltending position for our team,” Minnesota General Manager Chuck Fletcher said.
This year Bryzgalov has posted a 5-8-5 record for the Oilers, and has a 3.01 goals against average, and a .913 save percentage. The Wild feel that Bryzgalov will be a great insurance policy to current and inexperienced Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper. The Wild also have goaltender Niklas Backstrom who is injured, and Josh Harding who is dealing with the struggles of having MS.
The Wild are looking to make a long run in the playoffs, and this is a surprising, but quality insurance policy in net.
Minutes after dealing Ilya Bryzgalov to the Minnesota Wild, the Oilers announced that they had acquired goaltender Viktor Fasth from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in 2014 and a third-round pick in 2015.
The thirty-one year old native of Kalix, Sweden has proven to be a quality net-minder this year for the Anaheim Ducks. This season he is 2-2-1 in five games. He has posted a .885 save percentage, with a 2.95 goals against average. In his career with the Ducks, Fasth has a 17-8-3 record with a 2.32 goals against average, and a .915 save percentage.
The acquisition of Fasth comes just one day after the Edmonton Oilers signed Ben Scrivens to a new two-year contract extension. This gives Edmonton an inexperienced goaltending tandem, but one with great potential.
The Oilers rebuild has made some changes today, and it will be interesting what other changes/improvements will take place before the trade deadline.
Brad Burud the owner/editor of the Inside Edge Hockey News. I am a huge fan of hockey, from youth hockey, to junior hockey, and of course professional hockey. I have played, coached, worked as statistician, and watched hockey all of my life. Hockey is not just a game, it is a lifestyle and family. The game of hockey is great! It can bring you nights of great enjoyment. It also brings nights where you feel like your team will never win. I am proud to be a journalist for the greatest game in the world. I have a degree in Business Administration, Psychology from Minot State University. I also have a Hockey General Manager and Scouting, and Sports Communications/Journalism degree from Sports Management Worldwide. I am also a member of the Sports Executives Association. Most of all I am a fan. Hockey is a huge part of my life and my families life.