Ilya Bryzgalov's agent rips Flyers coach

Randy Miller | USA TODAY Sports

VOORHEES, N.J. —The morning after getting word the Flyers would be buying out the final seven seasons on his contract for $23 million, Ilya Bryzgalov issued a statement Wednesday through agent Ritch Winter.

The Russian goaltender, now an unrestricted free agent who can sign with any NHL team except the Flyers, praised team chairman Ed Snider, thanked teammates and fans, and said he plans on using his two seasons in Philadelphia as a learning experience to make himself a "better player, and hopefully a better person."

Later in the day, Snider gave his first comments since the buyout.

And then Winter, after writing that there would be no further comment coming from the Bryzgalov camp until training camp, issued powerful parting shots on an Edmonton radio station.

Winter's target in an interview with 630 CHED was Flyers coach Peter Laviolette and his offensive-minded system.

"It's terrible in Philadelphia for a goaltender," Winter said during his on-air interview. "They block shots. They don't open up lanes. Goaltenders can't see the puck. The goalie coach (Jeff Reese) has no authority. The head coach (Laviolette) doesn't listen to him. It's an issue and it's made it a challenge."

Winter went on to say that Bryzgalov had told him, "They pay you $51 million dollars because they seem to think I was good at stopping the puck and then they never let you see it."

The agent added, "And Sergei Bobrovsky, who struggled, leaves Philadelphia, goes to Columbus and wins the Vezina Trophy. Yeah, Ilya has to take some responsibility for his performance ... at the end of the day, I think there is more wrong with Philadelphia's goaltending than just the goaltending."

Ouch!

All that after Bryzgalov's statement ended with Winter saying, "for further comment, please feel free to walk up to Ilya Bryzgalov next year at training camp. He and his advisors will have no further comment until that time."

Earlier, Snider backed general manager Paul Holmgren's decision to buy out Bryzgalov in his statement.

"It was a very difficult decision from a financial standpoint, but if Bryz remained a Flyer, the dollars would be far greater in a shorter timeframe," Snider wrote. "We now have cap space, which will allow us to improve our team. In the meantime, Bryz can try to find a situation where he can achieve true happiness."

It's believed Bryzgalov will look for a new NHL team, but it's possible he'll return home to Russia to play in the Kontential Hockey League.

Bryzgalov could have a new team as early as July 5, the start of the NHL's unrestricted free agent signing period this year. Possible suitors include the New York Islanders, Florida, New Jersey, Minnesota and Phoenix, the latter his team for four seasons.

Asked if it'll be easy for Bryzgalov to be a starting goalie next season, NBC hockey analyst Pierre McGuire said, "You don't get starting jobs, you earn starting jobs. He's going to have to go out and earn a starting job."

Randy Miller writes for the (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier-Post, a Gannett affiliate