Risky Bryzness: Ducks goalie waived, returning home for remainder of season

Ilya Bryzgalov's NHL career appears to have come to a crossroads.

The Anaheim Ducks have placed the goaltender on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his one-year deal with the club, as reported by Renaud Lavoie of TVA.

The Ducks later announced that Bryzgalov will return to his family home in Philadelphia and won't play for the remainder of the regular season. 

Bryzgalov made the decision following an AHL assignment and discussions with his family and agent.

In his own words:

At the beginning of the NHL season, I spent all of my time with my wife and my children. I drove my son and daughter to their practices and games and enjoyed life. I had no plans to return to the NHL this season until the Ducks reached out to my agent, Ritch Winter. I agreed to return because of my respect for the Ducks organization, the quality of the team they had assembled and my long relationship with Bob Murray and the team. Given the way things have worked out, I have decided to return home to be with my wife and children, who did not move with me to Anaheim. It's not the way I had hoped things would work out. But when you can return to a family you love, could life be any better?

Bryzgalov, signed to a one-year, $2.88-million contract with the Ducks earlier this season, appeared in eight games. He posted a record of 1-4-1 with a save percentage of .847.