Flyers & Canucks Ring the changes, Miikka Retires

Philadelphia - The tumultuous relationship between the Philadelphia Flyers and goalie Ilya Bryzgalov will come to an end this summer. Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren made that official on Tuesday when he released a statement that the organization would exercise a compliance buyout of Bryzgalov, officially ending his tenure after just two seasons. "I met with Ilya this morning and informed him that we are going to exercise a compliance buyout of his contract," Holmgren said in a statement. "This was a very difficult business decision to make for us and we want to thank Ilya for his time here and wish him all the best moving forward." Holmgren said he met with Bryzgalov on Tuesday morning to inform him of the decision. Last week, Holmgren announced that forward Danny Briere would also be given a compliance buyout.

The decision to buy out Bryzgalov means the team has now utilized both of the buyouts available to them under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The window to announce compliance buyouts runs for 48 hours after the decisive Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. The team cannot officially buy him out until 11 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Bryzgalov has seven years remaining on a contract that pays him $5.6 million annually. Philadelphia will save $5.667 million in cap space for the next seven seasons, but the club also has to pay him $23 million over the next 14 years or two-thirds of the remaining $34.5 million on Bryzgalov's contract. The Flyers inked Bryzgalov to a nine-year, $51 million deal on June 23, 2011. The 33-year-old goalie played in 99 regular-season games for the Flyers and went 52-33-10 with a 2.61 goals-against average and .905 save percentage. He went 19-17-3 with a 2.79 GAA and .900 save percentage in 2012-13. In 11 playoff appearances, Bryzgalov was 5-6 with a 3.46 GAA and .887 save percentage. The buyouts of Briere and Bryzgalov will save the Flyers approximately $12.17 million against the cap in each of the next two seasons, according to the team's website. In his first season in Philadelphia, Bryzgalov finished 33-16-7 with a 2.48 GAA and .909 save percentage. Selected in the second round (No. 44) of the 2000 NHL Draft by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, he spent six seasons with the Ducks before being claimed on waivers by the Phoenix Coyotes on Nov. 17, 2007. Bryzgalov, who spent four seasons in the desert, has won 208 times in 425 career regular-season games, with a 2.55 GAA and .913 save percentage. The Flyers' projected starter between the pipes for 2013-14 is now Steve Mason, who was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 3 at the 2013 NHL Trade Deadline, in exchange for goalie Michael Leighton and a 2015 third-round draft pick. On April 8, Mason signed a one-year contract extension. In seven games with the Flyers, Mason went 4-2-0 with a 1.90 GAA and .944 save percentage.

Vancouver - The Vancouver Canucks have named John Tortorella as their new coach. He's expected to be introduced later Tuesday at a press conference scheduled for 4 p.m. ET. "We are proud to introduce John Tortorella as Head Coach of the Vancouver Canucks," general manager Mike Gillis said in a statement released by the team. "John has coached championship teams and is passionate about winning. He has a proven ability to bring the best out of his players and we believe he has all of the qualities to bring our team success."

The Canucks had been searching for a replacement for Alain Vigneault since letting him go after seven seasons shortly after the Canucks were swept in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the San Jose Sharks. Vigneault was hired last week as Tortorella's replacement as coach of the New York Rangers. Tortorella was fired by the Rangers shortly after New York lost in five games to the Boston Bruins in the second round of the playoffs. In an interview posted Tuesday on the Canucks' website, Tortorella said he looks forward to combating opinions of him that many formed during his tenure in New York. "I think it's come to the point with me where I'm kind of being defined as 'that lunatic,' not only on the bench, but also after games with media," he said. "I don't want to be defined that way, but I do make my own bed in that type of situation and I need to make some corrections, I need to make some adjustments in that part of it. I'm dealing with an older team here, as I look at the roster, I think I need to respect the older players and some of the processes they've gone through and make adjustments with myself as far as how I handle them."

In 13 seasons as coach, Tortorella has a record of 410-340-67, with 37 ties. He's led his team into the playoffs six times, including a Stanley Cup championship with the Lightning in 2004. "This is an adventure and it's an honor and a privilege," Tortorella told the Canucks' website, "and I couldn't be happier as far as where I'm at at this stage of my career and to have an opportunity to do this in the province of [British Columbia] with all the people that are glued into this team. It'll be a tremendous challenge, but I couldn't be happier."

Calgary - Calgary Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff has announced his retirement, according to a report out of Finland. Finnish correspondent Juha Hiitela reported that Kiprusoff informed his country's national team of the decision. "If Calgary has not announced it, you guys can do that," Kiprusoff is quoted as saying. Kiprusoff recently told Flames general manager Jay Feaster he was leaning toward retirement, according to a report by Sportsnet.

Feaster released the following statement Tuesday after the quotes attributed to Kiprusoff became public: "As we indicated when we addressed the media on June 14, having just spoken with Miikka at that time, we realized that if pushed for an answer Miikka would have said that he was finished with his professional career. In light of our most recent meeting with him, the statement attributed to him by the Finnish National Team does not come as a surprise. However, as we have said consistently, we will continue our dialogue with Miikka."

The 36-year-old goaltender had one of his least successful seasons in 2012-13. He was limited to 24 games by injury and performance, and finished 8-14-2 with a 3.44 goals-against average and .882 save percentage. Kiprusoff declined to be dealt at the NHL Trade Deadline, choosing instead to remain with the Flames, who did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Kiprusoff has a career record of 319-213-7-64, with a 2.49 GAA and .912 save percentage. His 305 wins, 41 shutouts and 576 games played are the most in franchise history. The Flames gave backup Joey McDonald a one-year contract extension in April and reportedly will add Karri Ramo from the Kontinental Hockey League in July. The team also acquired prospect Reto Berra from the St. Louis Blues as part of the Jay Bouwmeester trade.

"It's going to be some big feet to fill," MacDonald, 33, told the Flames' website last month, "[Kiprusoff] has been here for a long time and has done a great job. If it happens [that I can start], great. They're going to bring probably a couple other goalies, too. My focus now is just to be ready and be 100 percent and give myself the best chance in training camp." The Flames also have Leland Irving, Daniel Taylor, Joni Ortio, Laurent Brossoit and Jon Gillies in their system.