Has Bryzgalov been Signed?

Don't hold your breathe waiting on the answer.

Not because the Flyers don't plan on signing him. In fact it has been reported that the negotiations are going smoothly and Bryzgalov looks to possibly already been unofficially signed. Here tpanotch giving a great look into why we won't know about a deal between the Flyers and Bryzgalov before June 30th.

Here’s the rub: it’s entirely possible that the Flyers already have the framework for a deal with Bryzgalov, but it’s unfinished. Even if the deal got done this weekend, the Flyers can’t announce it until June 30.

Why? Because this is where the tagging issue comes in under the CBA. The new salary cap is slated to be announced on June 30. At present, the Flyers have less than $450,000 in cap space for next season under the current cap ceiling of $59.4 million.

Once Bryzgalov signs the contract, the Flyers have to move players and money because they would exceed the tagging space for next season. It has been reported the cap will rise to between $62.2 and $63.5 million for next season.

Also, it’s to Holmgren’s advantage not to announce a deal until he trades a player or players. That way, other clubs don’t hold the Flyers up to ransom, knowing they have to be cap compliant.

Stop me if I'm going too far but a deal may very well already be in place and the Flyers now hold the ultimate advantage in the trade market. As now they will be the only ones knwoing their cap situation, while other teams will not know if Bryzgalov is even signed.

Maybe I'm losing my mind. Maybe all these capgeek cap calculator are taking their toll. But here are some of @BryzGoalie30's tweet translated to English: (Both Today)


"Negotiations, negotiations, negotiations."

"Wait for the news! Soon, soon"

More to come...