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Minnesota Wild: Top 10 Goalies in Franchise History

By Cody Defoe

ST. PAUL, MN - DECEMBER 17: John Curry #33 of the Minnesota Wild warms up prior to the game against the Boston Bruins on December 17, 2014 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - DECEMBER 17: John Curry #33 of the Minnesota Wild warms up prior to the game against the Boston Bruins on December 17, 2014 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Wild
DENVER, CO – APRIL 17: Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov #30 of the Minnesota Wild looks on as he defends the goal against the Colorado Avalanche in Game One of the First Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Pepsi Center on April 17, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Wild 5-4 in overtime to take a 1-0 game advantage in the series. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

#10 – Ilya Bryzgalov (2014)

In the spring of 2014, The Minnesota Wild were riding deep into the depth of their goaltending rotation due to the losses of Josh Harding and Niklas Backstrom. Looking for a #1 guy to step in as the starter, with the team looking ahead to a playoff berth and lacking confidence in Darcy Kuemper to carry a playoff series, they made a trade for a proven NHL Starter.

The Wild traded a 4th round Draft pick to the Edmonton Oilers to acquire Ilya Bryzgalov, as it’s insurance policy behind Kuemper. Though much maligned in the recent years leading to his arrival in Minnesota, Bryzgalov brought a proven NHL calibre of goaltending to an otherwise shaky depth chart.

Bryz had 7 wins in 10 starts to finish the season, achieving 17 of a possible 22 points over his 11 starts in goal. His 2.12 GAA and .911 Sv%, along with 3 shutouts, were exceptional for a late season acquisition who had a 3.08 GAA and .908 Sv% over 19 starts in Edmonton prior to the trade.

In Round 1 of the 2014 Playoffs, Bryzgalov was dubbed the starter ahead of Kuemper. Following 2 subpar performances, including 3 goals on 14 shots in Game 2, Bryzgalov got the hook and was relegated to bench duty.

Late in Game 7, misfortune struck Kuemper and Bryz was thrust back into action with less than 10 minutes remaining in a tie game. The Minnesota Wild defence stifled Colorado, allowing only 1 shot through to Bryz over 13 minutes of play in the 3rd period and overtime before Nino Niederreiter sent the team to the second round for the first time in 10 years.

Bryzgalov would struggle again to start the second round, but with no backup to take his spot he found his game to force the series to 6 games. Unfortunately, that was the end of a short run in Minnesota for the former Stanley Cup winning goaltender.

Though his time in Minnesota was short, Bryzgalov left his mark with the franchise. His contributions getting the team into the playoffs, as well as leading them to their second longest playoff run in franchise history will always have a mark on the team.

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