The Flyers are continuing their apparent mission to get rid of every single player from their 2010-11 roster, as they are now reportedly looking to trade 22-year-old goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
The young Russian was hailed as Philadelphia's "goalie of the future" as recently as last month, but the team's signing of Ilya Bryzgalov to a blockbuster nine-year, $51 million contract has put Bobrovsky on the trading block, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
As a rookie this past season, Bobrovsky played 54 games while splitting time with Brian Boucher and Michael Leighton, compiling a solid 28-15-8 record with a .915 save percentage on a team that reached the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The addition of Bryzgalov complicates things, however. Bobrovsky is now placed in a situation much like the Bruins' Tuukka Rask — a talented young goaltender stuck behind a more talented, more experienced one — and the Flyers likely will not want to employ a two-goalie system with Bryzgalov's massive contract.
Bobrovsky's contract is another reason for Philly to deal him. Set to make $1.75 million in 2011-12, he would be the second-highest-paid backup goaltender in the league, according to the report.
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren "vehemently denied" the notion that the team is looking to move Bobrovsky, however, and no potential suitors have been reported.
