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Welcome back Bryz; veteran goalie signs with Ducks

Ilya Bryzgalov

Minnesota Wild goalie Ilya Bryzgalov watches from the bench in the first period of an NHL preseason hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

AP

The Anaheim Ducks have signed goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to a one-year contract, the club announced today.

The deal is worth $2.88 million, an NHL source tells Eric Stephens of the O.C. Register.

First up for Bryzgalov, 34, is a conditioning assignment with AHL Norfolk, after which he’s expected to serve as Frederik Andersen’s backup.

The Ducks, if you recall, entered the season with Andersen and highly touted rookie John Gibson as their goaltending tandem. But things did not go to plan for Gibson, who may end up finishing the season in the AHL, once his groin injury heals.

The Ducks’ current backup is Igor Bobkov, a 23-year-old who’s yet to play a second in the NHL.

Andersen, meanwhile, has played many, many seconds this season. In fact, only six goalies have played more than the 25-year-old, who, not surprisingly, has been showing signs of fatigue.

Bryzgalov has a career save percentage of .913 in 457 NHL appearances; however, he could only manage an .885 mark in nine playoff games for the Wild last spring.