Ilya Bryzgalov

Did You Know?

• Bryzgalov once owned a Siberian Husky, which he compared to a "hot blonde girl" on HBO's 24/7 series.
• Bryzgalov and his wife, Yevgeniya, have a daughter named Valery and a son named Vladislav.

Playing career

Bryzgalov began his professional career in Russia, splitting the 1999–2000 season between Spartak Moscow of the Russian Supreme League and Lada Togliatti of the Russian Superleague. After two seasons with Lada Togliatti, he joined the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, who had selected him 44th overall in the 2000 NHL entry draft. He made his Mighty Ducks debut in 2001–02, appearing in two games over that stretch. Injuries to Giguère gave him more playing time, and he posted a 13–12–1 record with a 2.51 GAA and .910 save percentage.

In the playoffs, he made three starts and one relief appearance against the Calgary Flames. After filling in for an injured Giguère in Game 1, he took over for Games 6 and 7, winning 2–1 in Game 6 and recording a shutout in Game 7. He then recorded consecutive shutouts in the first two games against the Colorado Avalanche, tying Frank McCool's 1945 playoff record for most consecutive shutouts by a rookie. Bryzgalov struggled in the semifinals against the Edmonton Oilers and was replaced by Giguère as the Ducks lost in five games.

International play

Bryzgalov competed for Russia at the 2000 World Junior Championships, recording a 0.77 GAA in four games and helping the team to a silver medal. He played four games at the 2000 World Championships, where Russia did not medal. At the 2002 Winter Olympics, he earned a bronze medal but did not appear in any games. He played 240 minutes at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, posting a 2.34 GAA. Bryzgalov won his first international gold medal at the 2009 World Championships after Russia defeated Canada in the final.

In popular culture

A 2006 post-game interview with Bryzgalov became an internet meme. When asked about teammate Chris Pronger, Bryzgalov replied, "Is only game, why you heff to be mad?" in a high-pitched voice with his thick Russian accent. The quotation was included as a voice line for the character Zarya in the video game Overwatch. Overwatch lead writer Michael Chu noted that many developers are hockey fans and that he was introduced to hockey through the Disney film The Mighty Ducks.

Transactions

Bryzgalov was drafted by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the second round, 44th overall, on 24 June 2000. He was claimed off waivers by the Phoenix Coyotes on 17 November 2007. On 7 June 2011, he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, and on 23 June 2011, he signed a nine-year, $51 million deal. The Flyers bought out the remaining seven years on 26 June 2013. He signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Edmonton Oilers on 8 November 2013, was traded to the Minnesota Wild on 4 March 2014, and signed a one-year, $2.88 million deal with the Anaheim Ducks on 9 December 2014.