Flyers

Ilya Bryzgalov Gives His Thoughts on Monkeys in Space

By Kyle Scott

Published: May 2nd, 2012 · 4:05 PM EDT

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Pic Matt Mullin (@matt_mullin), who created this Bryzgalov-Universe mashup

That's not like a euphemism or anything. He really did.

Ilya Bryzgalov finally broke out of his self(team?)-imposed shell today. Sort of. Before speaking in front of cameras, Bryz shot the shit with reporters, as he’s been known to do, and talked about… outer space. Again. 

One reporter asked what the Russian goalie would be doing if he didn’t play hockey. Similar questions have been asked to a myriad athletes, and most respond by naming some sort of mundane “day job” or with a snarky and perhaps honest assertion that they’d be unemployed.

Not Bryz.

He would have shot for the stars. Literally.

We’ll let Adam Kimelman of NHL.com tell the story:

After a pause, Bryzgalov replied, "Astronaut." He added that he was serious. 

That sparked an impromptu discussion on the merits of the U.S. space program compared to the Russian/Soviet space program, as well as Bryzgalov's belief that the first two animals sent into space were Russian dogs. 

Bryzgalov also had an opinion on sending monkeys into space.

"The problem with monkeys," Bryzgalov said, "is they push the wrong buttons."

 

Those goddamn monkeys… always causing a shitstorm.

And there is your latest Bryzism.