Ilya Bryzgalov Has an Offer to Play for a KHL Expansion Team on the North Korean border

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Ilya Bryzgalov remains a free agent, so might he find a new home in his native Russia?

ProHockeyTalk has translated this report from Sport Express in Russia in which former NHL All-Star Alexander Mogilny claims he has made an offer to Bryzgalov. Mogilny is heading up a new KHL expansion team, Admiral Vlaidvostok, and is evidently interested in acquiring the former Flyer's services.

Bryzgalov spent last year's lockout in the KHL, playing for CSKA Moscow, posting a 2.13 GAA and .913 save percentage in 12 games. For what it's worth, his relationship with the Russian media wasn't much better than it was with Panotch and the gang*.

PHT uses Google Translate to decipher the report, but as you'll see, it's a little rough. Either way, you get the gist:

Q: Olympic list Zinetula Bilyaletdinov saw? It does not have goalie Bryzgalov …

Mogilny: List seen. And about Bryzgalov can only say good words. A great goalkeeper. You do not have to hang on him all the dogs for the defeat at the World Cup.

Q: But in “Philadelphia,” his case was abysmal …

Mogilny: Who told you that? You know how many games last season, he won and how many lost? Saying that his contract bought out – so it’s financial policy of the American team. Bryzgalov is now without a club, and I am pleased to have invited him to “Admiral”.

However, we are not a rich club, so I do not know whether he will accept our terms and conditions.

Location also seems to be an issue, per Frank Seravalli:

There are two potential problems: (1) Mogilny firmly acknowledges that his club may not be able to pay Bryzgalov’s require rate and (2) Vladivostok is in the middle of nowhere.

Vladivostok is now home to the KHL’s eastern-most club. The city of 592,000 people, while home to the Russian pacific fleet, is situated on the border between North Korea and China.

The list Mogilny and the reporter are referring to up above is the Russian National Team's 2014 Olympic roster. Sergei Bobrovsky, Semyon Varlamov, Evgeni Nabokov and two KHLers received invites, but not Bryzgalov.

Of course, the last time he was a member of the Russian National Team, he was playing Angry Birds: Stars Wars Edition.

Bryzgalov has no doubt enjoyed success in the NHL -- he owns the Flyers' all-time shutout streak and was impressive enough in Phoenix to get himself a nine-year $51 million deal -- but he's also coming to his next team with a lot of baggage.

Sound off: Will Ilya Bryzgalov play in the NHL next season?

*Potential name for a Flyers cover band?

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