Ilya Bryzgalov is reportedly leaving CSKA Moscow of the KHL because he believes the NHL lockout is coming to an end.
According to a translation from Russian reporter Ruslan Salikhov, Bryzgalov said “I quit CSKA because the lockout is ending.”
CSKA Moscow intends to release Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov from his lockout contract on Monday, R-Sport reports.
The NHL and NHL Players’ Association exchanged more information on the latest offer from owners on Sunday before the union left to meet internally.
The sides resumed speaking in person at the league office on Sunday morning as the NHLPA sought clarification on various aspects of the comprehensive proposal tabled earlier this week. It followed a series of conference calls between the two parties on Saturday.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told the union that an agreement would have to be in place by Jan. 11. That would allow training camps to open Jan. 12 and the puck to be dropped for the season on Jan. 19.
The 106-day lockout has forced the cancellation of 625 games and is now the second longest in league history. In 1994-95, the lockout lasted 103 days before an agreement was reached. The labour dispute that wiped out the entire 2004-05 season spanned 301 days.
–With files from the Canadian Press