After the Flyers traded away Jeff Carter and Brad Mike (epic fail there by me) Richards, they signed goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year, $51 million deal. Bryzgalov, now 31 years old, will be signed until he is 40 with a $5.67 million cap hit. That is an awful lot for a goalie, and even more so when you factor in that Bryzgalov hasn’t won a playoff series since 2006. But with that deal in place, one has to wonder what kind of ripple effect it is going to have on the elite goaltenders in the league, specifically Henrik Lundqvist.

Lundqvist six-year, $41.25 million deal ($6.875 million cap hit) ends at the conclusion of the 2013-2014 season, when he is 32 years old. At just one year older than Bryzgalov at the signing of his deal, Lundqvist may seek a very similar deal for the Rangers to retain his services. When you throw in the fact that Bryzgalov will make $10 million this season, and Roberto Luongo made $10 million last season –a figure Hank has never come near– then you have to wonder what exactly Lundqvist is going to ask for.

Lundqvist is now in a very powerful negotiating position with Glen Sather and company. Hank is the face of the franchise, its best player, one of two elite players on the roster, a perennial Vezina finalist (robbed this year), and the only reason why the Rangers can consider themselves a playoff team for five of six years since the lockout. Adding that together, with the contracts of Luongo and Bryzgalov, and Lundqvist is probably thinking why he can’t make that kind of money.

Market value has been set. The Flyers traded two faces of their franchise to lock up a goaltender long term, and gave him a ridiculous amount of money in the short term. If Lundqvist thinks he can play until he’s 40, which we won’t know until he hits the end of this contract, then he may pursue another six or seven year deal from the Rangers. Will Glen Sather and company be willing to give Lundqvist six years at an average of say, $6 million per season?

Think that’s too much?

Ask yourself this then: Who is the best goalie out of Bryzgalov, Luongo, or Lundqvist? Your answer is likely Lundqvist, even if you are a Flyers/Canucks fan. Also, in a playoff game, which of Bryzgalov, Luongo, or Lundqvist would you rather have in net? Answer there, still Lundqvist.

Market value has been set. Now we have to wait and see what Lundqvist will want for his contract terms in three years.

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