The Edmonton Oilers have traded goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a fourth-round pick in a deal that casts some doubts over conflicting reports early Tuesday that said the Wild and New Jersey Devils had worked out a deal to send Martin Brodeur to Minnesota.
Conflicting reports on Martin Brodeur going to Minnesota Wild
"Bryzgalov is a quality veteran that adds depth to the goaltending position for our team," Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher said in a statement, according to NHL.com.
Bryzgalov, who entered the 2013-14 season without a contract after being boughtout by the Philadelphia Flyers at the end of the 2012-13 season. Bryagalov signed with the Oilers in the middle of this season and is 5-8-5 in 20 games this season with a .908 save percentage and a 3.01 goals-against average. The Oilers recently re-signed backstop Ben Scrivens to a two-year contract, securing the fact that they could deal Bryzgalov.
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The Wild were in the hunt for a veteran netminder to pair with rookie Darcy Kuemper as Niklas Backstrom has been oft-injured this season and Josh Harding has dealt with issues that have flared up stemming from his battles with M.S.
Brodeur along with newly-acquired Buffalo Sabres goalie Jaroslav Halak had been linked to the Wild, but now that they've made a move for Bryzgalov it doesn't seem as though the Wild will be landing Brodeur or Halak.
The Wild is giving up a pick that it acquired from the Sabres last season during a deal that involved Jason Pominville, so they'll still have a fourth-rounder in the upcoming draft.
There were conflicting reports Tuesday about the Wild and Devils agreeing to terms on a deal that would have sent Brodeur--who has played all of his games in his career with the Devils--to Minnesota.
The New York Daily News reported that a source had told them that Minnesota and New Jersey had worked out a deal, but reports since then have indicated that nothing was confirmed. It has been rumored that Brodeur was looking to leave New Jersey now that his role with the team is limited due to the acquisition of backstop Cory Schneider heading into the season. Brodeur wouldn't say whether or not he wanted to be dealt.
"Oh, no. It's not going to be like that. I don't think so, anyway," Brodeur told The Newark Star-Ledger about his willingness to be open with his motives and desires. "It's nobody else's business but mine as for the direction I want to go. It's been tough because you go through ups and downs. The more questions I'm asked, sometimes my answers change. That's why in the last few weeks I've been more quiet about it. It's on purpose, because I want to make sure my decision is an educated decision and there are no influences from the outside."
While Brodeur may end up being moved before Wednesday's 3 p.m. ET NHL trade deadline, it seems as though Minnesota may not be his destination after the Wild picked up Bryzgalov.
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