: Ilya Bryzgalov shares stories from his NHL days, insights on Russian goalies, and his son's career goals (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Ilya Bryzgalov, the Russian goalie who captivated fans with his unique personality and sharp insights, left an indelible mark on the NHL. Playing for the Anaheim Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, and Minnesota Wild, Bryzgalov's career was highlighted by his 2006-07 Stanley Cup win with the Ducks. A three-time Olympian and a finalist for both the Vezina Trophy and the Hart Memorial Trophy, Bryzgalov retired in 2015 but occasionally returned as a commentator, sharing his distinct views and keeping fans entertained with his memorable flair.
In this exclusive interview with RG, Bryzgalov shares his experiences, his views on today’s game, and what he’s been up to since stepping off the ice.
The Argument with Yandle and the Brioni Sweater
This summer, defenseman Keith Yandle was a guest on the popular podcast Spittin' Chiclets. Yandle, who played with Bryzgalov during their time with the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, shared that Bryzgalov would call him out for poor defense “every game.”
"Things happened," Bryzgalov told RG. "Keith loved to rush forward and get points, totally forgetting about defense. As a goalie, I didn't want to face ‘2-on-1s’ or ‘3-on-1s’ all the time. One time, I yelled at him, scolded him. There was a disagreement, which he later talked about on the podcast. I apologized afterward because I was wrong."
In a conversation with Paul Bissonnette, who also played with Bryzgalov, Yandle recalled how Ilya bought a 3XL cashmere sweater for $5,000.
Bryzgalov’s Time in Phoenix
During Bryzgalov’s time in Phoenix in 2011, there were rumors that he allegedly just left one night and departed from the team. Bryzgalov also addressed those rumors, giving his version of the story:
"Everyone got it wrong. It happened before a game against the Colorado Avalanche. We had just landed in Denver when my wife called and said our daughter was suspected of having appendicitis, and they were taking her to the hospital. So, I flew home immediately. I remember it was the day of the 2011 World Junior Championship final, when Russia won in Buffalo. Thankfully, my daughter was fine."
The Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes franchise was known for being a little bit of a hectic environment, especially when it came to constant relocation rumors. In another episode of Spittin' Chiclets, a story was shared about Bryzgalov allegedly refusing to follow the Coyotes to Winnipeg:
"All year long, we were being told there was a new buyer coming in, but the team had financial problems, no owner, and the NHL was sponsoring us. It dragged on for the whole season. Then, one of the journalists came and said, 'There’s a rumor the Phoenix team is moving to Winnipeg.' I said, 'I’m not going there. It’s cold. I’m not a fan of winter.' My contract was ending at that point, anyway. What’s nice about Manitoba? You arrive, and it’s -22 °F outside. The arena is downtown, so you can’t even go outside. And if it’s not freezing, it’s slush and wet snow, which is also unpleasant. You walk around underground tunnels, where all the buildings are connected by passageways."
The Legacy of Russian Goaltenders in the NHL
Bryzgalov has lived in Miami with his family for the last three years. He moved to Florida because of the warm climate. Ilya admitted that he doesn’t watch much hockey, but he did follow the latest Stanley Cup Аinal, in which the Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-3.
"I don’t watch the regular season games anymore, but I watched the Stanley Cup Finals. I'm happy that Bobrovsky finally won the Stanley Cup. He’s done a great job! He’s had an incredible career. I wrote him last year when they lost to the Vegas Golden Knights. I also congratulated him after this year’s victory.”
Bryzgalov played for the Philadelphia Flyers alongside Sergei Bobrovsky when Bobrovsky was starting his NHL career. Even then, according to Ilya, Bobrovsky showed a great work ethic.
"He hasn’t changed in that regard. His technique has evolved. When he first came to the NHL and now – it’s like night and day."
Bryzgalov was quick to promote Bobrovsky and the growing number of Russian star goaltenders in the NHL.
"We have other great guys, like Andrei Vasilevskiy with two Stanley Cups and four Finals. There’s also Igor Shesterkin. Bobrovsky has had an outstanding career, and he deserves to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. I know Sergei personally, his work ethic, his dedication. It’s all amazing."
Bryzgalov highly regards Rangers’ goalie Igor Shesterkin. According to reports, Shesterkin is seeking a salary of more than $12 million per year.
Bryzgalov’s Son Also a Goalie
Bryzgalov retired from hockey nine years ago and has spent most of his time with his family, especially his son. Vladislav Bryzgalov turned 18 this year. Like his father, he is a goaltender and is trying to build his own hockey career.
“Vladislav finished school last year, and now he plays for the Corpus Christi IceRays in Texas. This is the NAHL – the second-tier junior league in the U.S. He’s been living away from us for three years, so I’m not actively involved in his career. I only watch his games, we discuss them, and I give him some tips. But I don’t go out on the ice and practice with him; that only happens in the summer.”
Despite the father’s lengthy professional career in the NHL, the ultimate goal that Bryzgalov has for his son is to parlay his hockey into a university education.
“For us as parents, the draft is not the most important thing. The main goal is for him to get an offer from a university, play in the NCAA, and get a good education. The competition is insane, you can’t imagine how hard it is to get a sports scholarship. Kids come from all over the world. It’s not like 20 years ago when no one cared about college hockey. If he gets drafted, that would be awesome. Every kid has the dream of being drafted and playing in the NHL. I remember it well.”
Daria Tuboltseva
