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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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)?
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.
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.
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 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…
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.
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.
Ted and GMGM made the right business decision Huet got greedy. Now lets resign Federov
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.
What do you expect from the “French”
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.
Part of EFFECTIVE management is knowing when to move on!!!
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.
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.
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!
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.
“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!
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!
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.
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!!!
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.
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 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!
On paper, not a bad move. Hopefully, with the added seasoning, the defensemen will cut down on the number of shots allowed and the offense will continue to put up nice numbers to give Theodore a chance.
Not a good move. My concern is that Theodore has a history of character flaws that can undermine this team. It makes no sense: You lose Kolzig for Huet, and then lose Huet to get Theodore.
The Caps are a young team; and I hope that Theodore does not have a bad influence on this team (ie, Partying, drug use). The Caps had better make sure they have solid mature leaders in the locker room, or this team could be in trouble.
Ken;
So you would have put kolzig in net and not have made the playoffs. Kolzig was trash last year. Many experts believe he’s on a downward hill. Even his current coach melrose ripped him the whole year. Kolzig as we know now is a liar. He said he wanted the starters job and wouldn’t play if he were a backup(liar). He said he wanted to go to a contender(lie)tampa worse record in the league last year.
Uncle Ted,
PLEASE do what it takes to put ORPIK in RED. PLEASE!!
Your grateful fan,
Andrew from Brookland
Huet and Jose were the 2 best UFA goaltenders this year. Nice work getting one of ‘em when the other decided to go elsewhere. -JW
Hey Ted,
I want to say that you are the best owner I could imagine having. TOO Smart to save money the first few years and let our draft picks develop. GMGM was TOO Smart to pick up Huet for a faltering Kolzig to get our Superstar some playoff experience. This is the latest in some stellar moves by your administration. Some owners (*cough* Angelos) can’t let their people make the right moves. You did. Some owners would be like “we need Huet, he was part of the amazing turnaround.” We don’t need Huet. We needed a #1 goalie that fit our future plans and we have it. Anyone who doubts this move has NO business sense. Hockey is a business. Theodore will thrive in our locker room. The excitement and energy that Ovie and our youngsters bring will be more than enough to get Jose in top mental and physical condition.
Thanks Ted.
SIGN FEDOROV! =)
Are you kidding me??? We lose Huet? This cannot happen. Just an other frustrating move by the Caps! The bottom line………The Caps did not get the deal done!!
Great job by McPhee.
Huet and Theodore are roughly equivalent players, and Theodore has the better top-end and MUCH better playoff record. Once Huet wasn’t going to play ball it was critical that the Caps signed Theodore before Huet set a completely unreasonable price.
This is a professional business, fans, not an excercise in nostalgia. We have a good/better goalie for $1.1m less and a shorter contract. Now we can secure Feds or add a veteran blueliner (Orpik I hope).
The goalie stops pucks, and Theodore does it as well as anyone. Shore up the D and this is a team that can win in the playoffs.
Ignore the critics Ted, what do a bunch of Marylanders who’ve never paid their dues on ice know about hockey? Less than McPhee I’ll bet.
From a financial standpoint, I agree with this move. Remember everyone, Backstrom will be coming up for contract negotiations in a few years. We can’t have a goalies 5.7 million dollar contract hanging over our head. OV-Semin-Green all big money, and Backstrom will demand large bucks as well….there is only so much money in the well.
Now, why couldn’t management (Ted) get Olie to stay here for 1.5????
It’s Bondra all over again…use Olie for all you can, then throw him on the s-crap pile….and deny it was any of your fault when he won’t resign……….That’s the Ted way!
I feel like Mike Green and Cristobal Huet were the priorities of this offseason. Signing Green before the offer sheets could pile up was a positive. Not being able to reach an an agreement with Huet is a negative. I don’t blame the Caps for this one bit, but circumstances have forced the Caps to relent a position of strength in order to preserve a viable position of productiveness. If the mandate of continuity is upheld for the other players on the roster, I think I’ll be able to overcome any disappointment I may feel today.
Considering that GMGM did all that he could, and had to use Plan B with little warning, I would say he did just fine. Just for a second, assume that we never had Huet. But today we get Theodore. I think we would be smiling, not complaining.
There were two (2) starting goalies available. Both have essentially the same stats. We now have a goalie at a reasonable price that will bridge the gap between now and our prospects readiness. This was a good move business-wise. This was a good hockey move.
We still need a stay-at-home D-man… I presume that Pothier will be on LTIR? Orpik would be a nice replacement.
Thag…well he sure didn’t get the respect he deserved from the Caps..he was a factor on the ice as well as in the community and was treated like Art Monk was when the Skins didn’t want him. Huet was a joke in the playoffs and yet a proven winner despite his age and not playing at the height of his career should have been given a shot in goal…
well done Ted and George 2year deal is a good fit with the young goalie coming up. I’m in Montreal as you know and Theodore is back on track , he will be very good for the caps. can’t wait for the start of season. with all the interview he did in french in Montrealtoday about going for the caps he is very happy and amaze with the team so very good choice and god fit. see u Ted
I am happy with Plan B (Theodore for two year and wants to be a Cap). Plan A (Huet for four years) would have hurt the Caps down the road. Looking forward seeing Theodore and Johnny rocking the red in the net for the Caps this coming season.
It was a good move IMO. I read some of the boards and Huet’s wife didn’t like it here in DC. Whether or not that’s true I don’t know. At least the Caps had a plan B and acted on it.
Theodore’s younger by a couple years, there’s some extra $ to sign Fedorov and/or Matt Coooke. The Caps took care of Mike Green, which was HUGE!
I don’t know why Caps fans are whining about Huet leaving. We knew there was a possibility of that happening when the deal was done. Thanks Cristobal for the division title as he had a huge role in that. I wish him good luck.
I hope you intend to package Theodore along with some prospects or even a few draft picks in exchange for a decent goalie. You’ve said your goal is to win a cup, and Jose Theodore hasn’t been the go to guy for that for a long long time. He hasn’t won a single game in the second round of the playoffs in YEARS. Don’t get me wrong Huet was no god, but he’s better than theodore
Huet was very good down the stretch but what concerned me was he was pushed around by Philly and couldn’t close out game 7 (even with tough breaks top goalies find a way). I still don’t know if he could take us to the next level. To commit longer then 3yrs would have been silly with the talent we need to sign down the road. Jose will be hungry to prove he is back on his game. Remain calm all is well.
I’m so comfortable with GMGM in these situations. He did great work to get Cristobal, Sergei and Cooke at the deadline, then made a nice late flip to his backhand to get Jose signed after Huet wouldn’t agree to THE VERY TERMS HE PROPOSED.
Much as CH has a place in my heart for last year’s heroics to help get us into the playoffs, that decision of his to decline the TERMS HE PROPOSED tells me he wasn’t that motivated to be here. Listen to Ovie and Greener talking about how they want to be here, didn’t want to play games, and wanted to be LOYAL to the Caps. Those are our guys. That’s the kind of team spirit I love.
I hope Jose comes in well motivated and thrilled to be on a team that is going places. Huet made the money play, not the Cup play, and I’ll miss Olie, for sure. But Jose looks comparable to Huet by the numbers, but with a little more to prove to a young team that will contend and get at least to the second round if not the third round next season.
Can’t wait!
I am disappointed that Huet didn’t sign with us – he had an amazing run at the end of the season and should have been rewarded…. Having said that, you can’t sign someone who does not want to be here… if you meet his demands and then he says he still wants to test the market… it’s clear he wants to be somewhere else.
I also remember when he was signed at the deadline; there was some question of whether his family wanted/like DC… I don’t know if that was just the rumor mill or actually the case. Maybe that went into the decision too.
So where are we now… we now have a younger goalie who was playing better at the end of the year (Theodore) than one who we had at trade deadline (Kolzig). Don’t get me wrong, I have been a huge Olie supporter but he lost a little bit the past year. We wish him the best as a backup in Tampa.
I started the day thrilled to hear that Mike Green had signed, thereby avoiding any offer sheet drama. When I first heard about Theodore when I was at work, I was confused as it appeared that the Caps might reach an agreement with Huet. After I got home from work, I was able to listen to Mr. McPhee’s conference call and to read Tarik’s and Corey’s blogs. That’s when I realized what a good job by the Caps today. It appears that Huet did not want to sign here and the Caps got the best available starting goaltender. I heard Theodore’s interview on the NHL Network and he is happy to come here and said that the Caps are a good team. I was also happy to hear on McPhee’s conference call that the Caps are interested in resigning Feds.
Don’t listen to all these naysayers Ted my man, you guys made the right move. I would much rather have Green, Theodore and perhaps Fedorov for the money it may have taken to have Green and Huet.
Neither goalie has separated themselves from the other in their careers, both regular season and playoffs. GMGM was right, you got a goalie who is just as good for cheaper and for less time.
You couldn’t do any more for a guy (Huet) than agreeing to his demands and then he goes and changes them.
We will be fine with Jose!
I hope no one crucifies me but I think the Theodore signing was a better choice than Huet even if the Caps had gotten Huet at $5M/year for 3 or 4 years.
1) After next year (year 2 of the contract) Chris Clark needs to be signed.
2) After two years the next great big contract for the Caps is due: Nick Backtstrom. Conveniently (this is good planning) both Viktor Kozlov and Brian Pothier’s deal expire
3) After 3 years, Nylander and Poit’s contracts expire, Semin is due for another extension, and if Alzner pans out like he should, he’ll be due for an extension as well.
Chicago has tons of cap room to pay Huet more than what MARTIN BRODEUR is making. The Caps didn’t (and Huet, as great as he is, isn’t Martin Brodeur…)
Thanks, Ted. I think most fans will eventually understand the business side of things and agree with the signing of Theodore. You and GMGM should be appluaded for taking the best approach to a successful future for the team. Keep up the good work!
I find it hard to consider what Huet’s agent (and Huet, by extension) did can be termed negotiating in good faith. Given the circumstances, Theodore was the only way to go. He has a rather uneven history, but he did rather well in the past season. I’m pleased he’s happy to be here, and there’s something to be said for having a change of scenery. He may be re-energized by having a fresh start here. I think the Caps will have good use for the ~ $1.2 million saved in the goalkeeper’s salary will be well spent on others who have an interest in playing here and making a contribution.
Let’s see here, Huet originally asks for 3 years, $15 mil and also hires a real estate agent to help him find a place to live in the DC area. 1 July roles around and the deal Huet asked the Caps for is still on the table and seems to be a sure lock, then for a little more money and one more year that he probably won’t even last to see, Huet opts to “test” the free agent waters when he knew all along that his plan was to leave DC even though he and his agent gave every impression to the DC area media that he wanted to stay, which in return was relayed to us Capitals fans and our hopes and dreams jumped through the roof…..and rightfully so.
Now we look at Theodore being signed and everyone jumps on the “bad deal” wagon because he’s inconsistent. Ok, let’s look at the 3 goalies in this situation:
1) Kolzig= 1 Vezina, 1 Cup appearance, 38 years old
2) Huet= 0 Vezina, 0 playoff series wins, 32 years old
3) Theodore= 1 Vezina, 1 Hart, some playoff series wins, 31 years old and best of all he signed a lower contract which is just enough time for him to fill in the goaltender gaps in DC until the young guns are ready to step in.
Anyway, in the past Theodore is use to playing on teams with old, veteran players. Now, he’s playing for a team full of young studs and the right amount of veterans to balance out the squad. I think Theodore is going to SHINE with the Caps. I think the enthusiasm and energy of the Capitals team is going to rub off on Theodore quickly which is going to turn his game around and put him on another level that no one has seen before.
Ted,
I’m still in shock about losing Huet, but it does seem now that he didn’t want to be here.
After all his agent’s lip service, you guys made him the offer he was looking for and he still went elsewhere? Well, I guess he didn’t want to be here after all.
The fact that Theodore has won a playoff series is very encouraging.
Go Caps!
Yeah he “led” his team to the second round, then was pretty much the reason they were knocked out. When was the last time he won a single game in the second round? I know you and GMGM did your best, and let’s hope that we can at least strengthen out defense so we might still have a shot at the cup and at making DC remain a hockey town.
Once Huet passed on resigning with the Caps, what alternative was there? There was no better goalie on the market than Theodore. No one in hockey really disputes that. Is Theodore going to win the Vezina next year? No, but neither is Huet. Should the Caps have thrown more money and another year at Huet in order to get him? We’ll have to let hindsight be the judge on that one. BUT, my 2 cents: while he was good last year down the stretch, he wasn’t THAT great. Remember the playoffs. Plus, I trust George; he’s earned some faith and respect around here, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt on this one until proven wrong.
Good alternative. Not much difference between the two. Plus he’s a little younger, signs for less money and more important, if he’s terrible he only costs us 2 years on the length of the deal. If Huet was terrible we would’ve been stuck. Plus in a salary cap era, your not going to be able to retain everyone, and they still have a few guys to sign.
Ooops…we needed him. Even if it meant a longer contract.
well, we could always bring back that “steal of a deal” we got for Oates…yeah, you remember – Maxime Oulette??
Karma is a bitch eh Ted, and somewhere Olaf Kolzig is smiling.
Uh…I think Olie was shown the door for Huet, and Huet was smart to go for what he wanted. This situation was coming the moment Olie was benched, and GMGM should have seen it coming. Theodore is way too inconsistent for the money spent. Ted, I know you are trying to make the best of a bad situation, but your post was kinda lipstick on a pig…
Ted,
I just wanted to say thank you for all your hard work. Despite some of the venom above, I think your management team (particularly GMGM) has earned a great deal of trust from the average fan. I appreciate your honesty and transparency, and I’ve never been more excited to be a Caps fan.
Cheers,
Kyle Dunn
Got to admit Ted you guys really knocked me on my keister on this! but the more I read about what really happened on Huet’s end the more I realize that George did the best he could for the team. Come on admit it though…it’s fun living Washington Capital Fans Mass Hysteria!!!
Theodore/Huet, Huet/Theodore, so what either way it is goalie lite and the Caps proved they can play in front of whoever is in net. Great D even makes Marty B look good. I guess the signing of Olie to the Bolts as a backup shows just how badly the communication broke down last year between him and the team, ironic since you’ve made your mark as a great communicator.
Does this mean the Verizon Center will rename French Fries to Freedom Fries?
good work getting theodore signed when huet fled. dont let the door hit you in the a@@ on the way to chicago!
Ken… Nobody “shoved” Kolzig out of town. Excellent job by GMGM, getting a great goalie signed to a short contract. Huet for four years would have caused cap problems in a couple of seasons. Theodore is going to impress this season and next, then he will be gone right when one of the youngsters is ready to play.
… a bit much for Green, though. I hope he is working on his defense, he was a liability last year.
I guess all of the whiners who posted before me (bashing Theodore) would prefer Ray Emery or BJ starting in goal next season, because that is what would have happened had GMGM not made a move for Theodore. If that happened, you all would have been whining about how much of a travesty it was. Seriously people, sometimes you have to pick the best of the worst in a situation.
Don’t worry Ted, most of your fans aren’t idiots, really.
Theodore played very well in that last stretch of the season to lead and injured and aging Av’s team into the playoffs….People seem to forget Huet has been injured for parts of each of the past two seasons…good move Ted / George …people will be plesantly suprised…Huet and Khabibulin will be fighting for the starting job in Chicago…onward!
You can listen to one person who speaks for most Caps fans, or you can listen to other people. I’ll only speak for myself.
I think that if the stories are accurate, and your side agreed to their offer, and then they chose to not take it, it’s your job to go and get the next best goalie with that money.
You guys did. Thanks.
Is Theodore the best goalie in the NHL? No. Did we have the best goalie? No. We didn’t. You just can’t make some people happy, even when circumstances are beyond your control. It’s a shame.
I fail to see why people love Huet so much. He played 2 months of hockey with the games was good, then didn’t show up in the playoffs. He wants more money than he is worth and Theodore is comprable in every facet. Oh and he has won a playoff series, something Huet has not. You can gripe that Theodore is not consistant but niether was Heut, lets not forget he was benched for Carey Price….
Huet = French for Greedy Slimeball
I’m fine with Theodore, and believe that given the chance Johnson can shine as well. Most important to good goalkeeping is good D. No shots, no goals. Today’s news about Pothier’s recovery has me hoping McPhee gets another experienced blue liner.
Nice name to add to the roster. Any chance of getting the message boards fixed? They’ve been down the whole day.
Ted,
Great..so you practically shove Kolzig out of town to pick up Theodore? Again..not playing Kolzig during the cup run for a guy who struggled and is now no longer a part of the team shows how rent-a-player is not the answer…
I am glad you feel good. Check around the NHL most think it was a mistake. I understand you couldn’t make Huet sign and he ended up signing a 4 yr deal for over 22 mil.
but I just don’t have faith in Theodore. He is to up and down. Seems to only play good in his contract yrs.
Most Caps fans are not very happy with this move.
Sorry Mr. Leonsis,
This is a HUGE mistake on the part of the Caps…I hope the youngsters are ready to play in less than a year..this is a waste of Cap Space..$4.5M for Theodore is just terrible.
I hope all the good feeling and excitement from last year is not wasted due to inept goaltending and a very poor decision from the GM..
Very bad day for Caps Fans
Sad, but perhaps understandable, that Huet went to Chicago for the extra year rather than stay here with the far better chance of competing for the Cup. Getting Theodore, particularly with just a 2 yr. commitment, was a well-implemented Plan B. Now let’s hope that the young goaltenders all come back from their injuries and prove to be NHL-ready in two years.