We couldn’t come to terms with Cristobal Huet even though we met his ask and NOT for a lack of trying. We became very concerned that this player just didn’t want to sign with us so we had to move quickly to sign a new number one goaltender. We believe that Jose Theodore will fit in nicely in DC. He is a former league MVP and a former Vezina Trophy winner and he led his team into the second round of the playoffs last season.
We still have work to do - more as it develops - but I feel good that we delivered a new, younger, number one starting goaltender today.
Tags: Hockey, Joe Theodore, Ted Leonsis, Ted's Take, Vezina Trophy, Washington Capitals
I don’t understand what everyone is so upset about. We matched Huet’s demands so he could be a #1 goalie on a Cup contending team, and he went out and got a better deal so he can battle to be a #1 for an improving team, but not a cup contender. (I’d like to know how Chicago is going to manage that situation with Kahbibulin.) So we went to the next best option, a former vezina/hart winner who will probably have similar numbers to Huet. Get a grip people. Do you want to have a career backup like Conklin/Raycroft/Lalime being your #1 when you realistically have Stanley Cup aspirations like the Caps? The simple answer is no & nobody else does either. This is why each of these guys signed small deals to be BACKUPS!
My first reaction was to cringe just a bit at a third change in net in such a short period of time, especially after Huet added so much, but it sounds all in all like a positive decision. I can’t believe that Huet didn’t want to be with the talent on this team, the committment of this owner and the passion of these fans after that run, but if he didn’t it’s his loss.
My bigger regret is to hear about these young goalies possibly coming up in the next couple of years, and not having Olie part of the organization to model/mentor for them. Water under the bridge, but still it would be nice to see him back in some role.
I think the Caps did the right thing regarding this goalie situation. I feel that Huet played the Caps, and really didn’t want to stay here, or he could have. Theodore could have an excellent season for the Caps, and I for one want to give him a chance. I always wonder with some of these athletes when is enough money enough. Greed is just rampant. Frankly, I want people on my team who want to be on my team. Not just to be used as a contract negotiating tool. My respect for Huet has gone way down. Caps tried their best.
Ted,
I think you guys did the right thing by far. Having Theodore come in was a nice Plan B. And as for Mike Green I think you saved probably a million a year on him just by getting it done prior to the noon hour yesterday. You look at Campbell going to the Hawks and I believe getting around 7.1 per season….I think the Caps got the better end of the deal and the Hawks took the 2nd or 3rd best alternatives…. Also you gotta kinda scratch your head when it comes to Chicago…two goalies at around 12 million of your cap. Good luck dumping one. Maybe Tampa will take Khabibulin off your hands…They’ve taken everyone else it seems this FA period.
GO CAPS and Thanks Ted and George!!!
If McPhee didn’t think Huet was worth 22.5 over 4 years, then I’m glad he didn’t pay him! Theodore was clearly the next best option. And by signing him to such a short deal, it really incentivizes Theodore to perform immediately. If not, he’s gone in two years and one of the youngsters can step in.
I was shocked & upset yesterday. But you guys did what you could and offered Huet what he asked for. He wanted more & didn’t want to be in DC. So be it. Jose is a big name. I trust the Caps organization on this one. You wrapped up Ovie, you wrapped up Green. On to Laich & Gordon!
“a bit much” for Green? Huh? Did you see where that guy Streit (who?) from Montreal last year also signed for $5.1M a year. It’s called inflation. As long as the cap goes up 10% a year, the salaries must by contract terms follow suit. I guess you will also think it’s a “bit much” when Laich signs for the going rate of $2.5-3.0M/year. Very nice job by McPhee to minimize damage control on the goaltending. It looks like Huet used the Caps offer to pry an extra year out of Chicago. I’m not sure if his parents taught him to behave that way, or maybe he learned it from his agent, but my respect for Huet went out the window. Good riddance!
Certainly a fun surprise for the first day of free agency — definitely didn’t see it coming.
I think this is really good. Anyone who remembers ‘01-’02 knows Theodore is great. Howevern, I feel strongly that he doesn’t have a chance unless we sign another veteran defenseman.
Ted - I think most Caps fans ARE OK with this move. The price was too steep. We will be OK with Theodore, and we are also in a good position with options after 2 years.
Can I donate additional money to help you sign Federov?
Rock the Red!
Ted:
I was really peeved yesterday. i still have my doubts about Theodore. however, if a solid blueliner is in the offing, then i am happy to give the benefit of the doubt. please sign a bluliner. i did not spend $1300 to watch Green pass to opposing players for winning goals.
I think it is a great move. The biggest mistake an organization can make is tying up big longterm money on a “fair-to-good” goaltender who had a hot streak. Two years is just right, and one of the 2 prospects should be ready by year 3. And, the savings (over $13 mil) can be spent on the real need: DEFENSE.
Part of EFFECTIVE management is knowing when to move on!!!
Excellent decision by George. Theo is younger, more proven, comes cheaper, and will be better in the playoffs than Huet. More important, he wants to be here. Fans will soon forget Huet, mark my words.
What do you expect from the “French”
I know that the goalie FA pool was very very shallow this year, but I didn’t think it was THIS shallow. I don’t think he was our answer. Mainly because we don’t have a good enough D line to hold up a mediocre goalie. Which is why Olie was hung out to dry a lot over the year (aside from his other just truly poor games). If this is the direction we are going, GMGM needs to get an EXPERIENCED D, meaning a Vet. Someone who can quickly and EFFICIENTLY mold our young players to build a better/stronger line. Another young body here will not help us there. without the D, no matter what goalie we have will really help us. I think you made a lateral move for a goalie at best. I don’t see it as an upgrade.
Ted and GMGM made the right business decision Huet got greedy. Now lets resign Federov
Green’s signing was very important for us, I’m glad to see it get done.
Olie deserves a standing ovation when Tampa comes to town, Huet should be booed loudly, that greedy pig. He’d rather have money than a shot at the Cup.
Theodore was the next best goalie on the market, so good job there. And maybe we can use some of the money we saved by signing Theodore insead for Huet on a veteran defenseman.
No porblem with signing Theodore. Hopefully last year is an indication of how he will play the next two years.
Ken, sorry Olie was not shoved out the door. He simply is not the same goalie he was even five years ago. If he had been starting golaie for the stretch run, there would not have been playoffs. I would have liked to retain Huet, but not after the Caps were prepared to meet what he asked for and then him coming back and asking us to reup our offer. For a strong two month run with us, Huet will get more than Marty Brodeur next year. Sorry, but I do not believe he is worth that.
I don’t understand why some Caps fans seem to think we lost the equivalant of Brodeur. Huet has never started more than, what, 50 games? He is kind of unproven as well, and just 6 months ago was a benchwarmer. Theodore improved last year.
Who would I have picked? Huet at the 15 mil for 3 years. But Huet at 5.6 mil each year for 4 years? That is too much of a gamble IMO, especially with Backstrom and Semins contracts up in the next few years.
I’m going to cheer on Theodore. I mean, he won a playoff series he wasn’t supposed to win last season. He had comparable numbers to Huet. His personal life has settled down.
We have 2 good goalies. Now, if we could only sign Feds…
Another stroke of genius by the organization. It has to be a fine line for a GM to walk between current needs and the faces of the future waiting in the wings. The Caps do have a serious talent pool at Goalie. Two years is the perfect hedge on all bets. My hat is off to the Svengali of hockey, GMGM, again!
I am so incredibly disappointed, not with the signing of Theodore, but with the treatment of Olie. He has been the face and backbone of the Capitals for many years. To lose Olie is a great blow to the Caps, even if he is “old” and people believe he has lost his “edge”. I hope he plays as a starter with Tampa and goes on to win the Cup because that is what he deserves.
I don’t know why everyone is complaining. I think Huet asked for too much and too long of a term with our youngsters coming up. I think this could potentially be a good fit with a former Hart and Vezina trophy winner. I am willing to give any proven player a new chance under Boudreau considering how many others have flourished under him in his short tenure. Remember…noone knew who Green was until Bruce brought in his system.
We have two bonafide studs in Varlamov and Neuvirth who will be ready to play by ‘09-10 (for Varlamov, probably this season). Why sign Huet beyond 2-3 years when Varlamov (and maybe even Neuvirth) will be better than he is in 1-2 years (consensus is that Varlamov is the best goalie not in North America right now)?
Bottom line is that signing Huet for 4 years would have been a mistake whether it was at $5.5, $5.0 or $4.5 million per season.
I can live with Theodore for 2 years and he will be an big upgrade on what we had with Kolzig (with all due respect to Olie).
I say: job well done for the Caps fromt office. This is a smart and fiscally responsible group. One of the best in the NHL.
Its too bad we don’t play Chicago many times next season. I know where to sit & how to boo.
Nice Plan B. Flexibility is underrated by most fans.
C’mon people….Huet is a good goalie, but he’s not an ELITE goalie. It’s not like we lost Ovechkin, Semen, or Green here. Theodore can easily fill Huet’s vacancy. We need to worry more about getting an established, consistent defenseman or else we’re going to give up too many goals no matter who’s in net. Tom Poti (that’s right, Poti) was really the only consistent guy we had behind the blue line last year. Pothier may never play again. He almost certainly won’t be helping anytime soon. Jurcina and Morrisonn improved, but we need help on D more than anyplace else.
In the end, why would we want to sign someone who really didn’t want to be here anyway?
Nice job George.
Initially i was a little dissapointed with the move but this was a good real time decision by the Caps . If Huet didnt want to sign then it is better for us to get a pretty good goalie then being put in a bad situation where we play a dangerous game of Cards with him and potentially end up with no goaltender at all.
This team is much better than we were a year ago at this time. We can make a run at the cup with the team we have now.
And if we need to make a move or two at the trade deadline then i’m sure you guys will get it done. I think some fans maybe forgetting that is also an option if needed.
No reason for fans not to be fired up. This team is still top notch. Go Caps!
Olie was great but he was slowing down with age. Great, great Cap but he’s not the first DC athlete to be shown the door. #81 for the Redskins comes to mind. In other words, it’s a business and Ted & Co have a plan they need to stick to. Yeah I would have loved seeing Olie remain a Cap his whole career but it wasn’t meant to be. Caps have improved with Theodore and I wish Olie well in Tampa Bay.