Another Former Flyer That Was Moved Too Soon: The Two-Time Vezina Winner
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FrankieAugust 20, 2022 (8:13 PM)
One thing that the Flyers organization has not hit on was goaltending. From the duo of Boucher and Leighton in 2010. To the huge contract of Ilya Bryzgalov. Flyers couldn't catch a break, but then. Here comes "Bob".
Now Genral Manager Paul Holmgren at the time was not set of drafting players from Russia, given the difficulties of signing players from there.
After playing his first four professional seasons with Metallurg Novokuznetsk in Russia, Sergei Bobrovsky signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Flyers on 6 May 2010. He was initially going to start in the American Hockey League, the Flyer's minor league affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms. As time went on and impressing coaches was happening quickly during training camp. Bobrovsky replaced the injured starter Michael Leighton on the roster.
After Leighton recovered, Bobrovsky continued to share goaltending duties with Brian Boucher.
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It's been the Sergei Bobrovsky show in Edmonton after 20 minutes of play. pic.twitter.com/lPHmGST93U� Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 21, 2022
Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette named Bobrovsky the starting goaltender for the opening game of the 2010�11 season against the Pittsburgh Penguins on 7 October 2010.
In his NHL debut, Bobrovsky picked up a 3�2 win and was named the game's first star in the first regular season game at Pittsburgh's Consol Energy Center. At 22 years and 17 days, he became the youngest goaltender to win a season-opening game for the Flyers. Breaking Ron Hextall's age, who started at 22 years and 159 days on 9 October 1986.
Bobrovsky was also the first Flyers rookie goaltender to win his NHL debut since Antero Niittymäki did so in 2004. There is another fallen goaltender.
Sergei Bobrovsky improved to 36-6-3 and tied Juuse Saros (36 w/ NSH) for the League-lead in wins this season, setting a @FlaPanthers record in the process.#NHLStats: https://t.co/zGHPeVXE7j pic.twitter.com/UmTisnx4IO� NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 16, 2022
He had a great rookie year having a record of 28�13�8 record along with a .915 save percentage. The playoffs were not so kind to "Bob" as he was sometimes benched for Boucher. The following year came the 9-year contract signing of Ilya Bryzgalov. The man they still pay today.
During the 2016�17 season, Bobrovsky posted a record of 41�17�5, good enough for second in the league while also setting a Blue Jackets franchise record for wins in a season by a goaltender. He also posted a 2.06 GAA, .931 save percentage
A solid goaltender who was given up on due to Bryz. Bobrovsky had moved on to have a great career with the Blue Jackets and continues to play with the Florida Panthers today. The team who won the President's Trophy for best record in the NHL.
Did they give up on Bob to quickly or was his time ended for what they thought Bryz was going to be?
| POLL | ||
20 AOUT | 110 ANSWERS Another Former Flyer That Was Moved Too Soon: The Two-Time Vezina Winner Who would you rather have as starting goalie in 2022-2023? | ||
| Sergei Bobrovsky | 60 | 54.5 % |
| Carter Hart | 50 | 45.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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