Is Ilya Bryzgalov the Missing Piece in Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup Puzzle?

The Philadelphia Flyers could have won the Stanley Cup in each of the past two seasons if they had a top goaltender, which is why they made finding one a top priority this summer.

The Flyers signed former Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year, $51 million contract in July, making him the team's future between the pipes.

But is Bryzgalov the missing piece in the Flyers' Stanley Cup puzzle? There's good reason to believe he is.

For one, he has consistently shown he can be a quality goaltender and was a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2010.

Bryzgalov is not afraid to play the majority of the 82 regular-season games and has been durable throughout his career.

Now he plays in a hockey-rich city that has a passionate fanbase, something he didn't have in Phoenix.

"Philly is a great place to play hockey," Bryzgalov said via TSN.

The Flyers earned 106 points during the regular season last year but played three goaltenders through two rounds of the playoffs, and their severe goaltending issues against Boston led to the Bruins sweeping them out of the playoffs.

Now, the Flyers will have more consistency and reliability in goal, which is crucial to a deep playoff run. 

Not only is he a great fit in Philly, Bryzgalov seems excited to be there.

"This is a team with rich history," Bryzgalov said. "The highest goal is to win the Cup. That's what this game is all about. That's all that matters."

He also knows that the one goal in Philly is to win the Stanley Cup, and anything less is a failure.

"I never put the pressure on myself," he said. "I know my job. I know what I have to do."

The Flyers made some big trades to allow themselves to afford Bryzgalov. The team traded captain Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings and talented forward Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

They also allowed forwards Daniel Carcillo and Ville Leino to leave the organization via free agency.

The Flyers did acquire Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn through the Richards trade, and both are quality young players.

The team also signed young forward James Van Riemsdyk to a big extension this week.

All these moves have Flyers fans excited for the regular season, along with Bryzgalov, who knows the only thing that will satisfy the fans is a championship celebration.

Not only are the Flyers going to be title contenders this season, they have the depth and young talent to remain competitive for years.

If Ilya Bryzgalov plays like a Vezina candidate this season, the Philadelphia Flyers have a great chance to lift the Stanley Cup.

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins featured columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston. Follow him on Twitter.