The trade deadline acquisition, and subsequent signing, of goaltender Steve Mason has further spurred speculation that the Philadelphia Flyers might buy out starting goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov after the conclusion of the 2012-13 season.
Following practice Tuesday, the heavily worked netminder was asked for his thoughts on having his contract bought out by the Flyers.
“To be honest, I don’t care,” Bryzgalov told the Courier-Post. “Really, I don’t care. I have no control on this, so why should I care?”
Bryzgalov (17-15-3; 2.88 GAA; .896 save percentage) is wrapping up the second season of a nine-year agreement with the Flyers that pays him $51 million. He carries a cap hit of $5.67 million.
The 24-year-old Mason, formerly of the Columbus Blue Jackets, signed a one-year extension with the Flyers this week for $1.5 million and has yet to replicate the success of his breakthrough rookie year in 2008-09, when he notched 10 shutouts for the Jackets.
Bryzgalov has played solidly for the Flyers this season, but his hefty price tag has raised questions.
“You know, I have no control in this,” Bryzgalov told the Post. “I can’t read the people’s mind. I can’t project things what they’re thinking, that’s why I’m not worried about things I can’t control. I maybe want one thing and they want a different thing.”
