…But on this one - nope - off the mark by a mile.
We resigned Mike Green, key deliverable #1. We signed a first string goaltender for two years at an affordable price, key deliverable #2. The new goaltender wanted to be here and play here. He knows what we are building. We haven’t lost momentum, just changed a piece part. Our young core is intact and the path for our young goaltending prospects is still intact too. I wouldn’t rush to any judgments if I was you OFB. You know better than that.
Careful now Ted, they’ll ban you…
George McPhee, the Capitals, and you have shown you know how to put a quality product on the ice. I was going to cry if you didn’t resign Mike Green. We needed a good goaltender. You signed a good goaltender. You signed the #1 player in the universe last year to a long term deal (which I appreciate since I bought his jersey..;) I’m ready for some hockey….
Ted,
I disagree with this based on the description George McPhee gave of the process. The Caps “finally” offered what huet wanted. People overlook that word. And if you follow George McPhee’s telling you see how the Caps shot themselves in the foot.
Let’s look at it this way, Ted. Say I meet someone and we click and have a great night out and we want to go out on a date to a nice A grade restaurant that costs a high – but agreeable – price for a great Saturday evening put.
Something special’s in the air; everyone can see and feel the chemistry (a la the playoff run). The day after our great first meeting, he contacts me:
Him (call #1): Hey, how’d you like to go to dinner at C grade restaurant, Wednesday night? (3.7m/3years)
Me: Um, I’d like to do the A grade restaurant, Saturday night — and, I know the cost is high, so I’ll pay the tip and buy dessert. (5m/3years – even though I’m pretty certain I can get more and for longer.)
Him (call #2): Um, okay: how about we meet halfway: I take you to B grade restaurant, Thursday night, and you pay tip, dessert, wine.
Me:
Him (call #3): Um, hey…been thinking about you. How about the B+ grade restaurant, Friday night, you pay tip/dessert. I’ll get the wine, baby.
Me:
Him (call #4): Hey sweetie, let’s do A grade restaurant this coming Saturday; the weekend (July 1) is nearing, babe.
Me: buzz off you loser!
I’m sorry, I don’t see Huet as greedy on this one. All along everybody knew he was a $5m goalie. He agreed for 3 years and I think if the Caps had said: “what time can you make the press conference” right away instead of “how about we each give 10-15%,” we’d not have gotten into this situation in the first place.
As a Caps fan…a premiere season ticket holder, I’m angry that it came down to this.
Nancy
Ted,
I couldn’t agree with you more..The overreactions have left me a bit disturbed. I have and will continue to have faith. For God’s sake, we were in the playoffs last year!
Keep up the great work!
Ted, as a season ticket holder(4 seats), I applaud the way GMGM handled the situation. He couldn’t make Huet sign here, and all the disingenuous Crap Huet and his agent spewed threw everyone off. Huet said he wanted to be the clear-cut #1, how then does he sign with the same team that has the Bulin wall!?!?!? I really hope khabibulin totally outplays Huet and keeps him on the Bench, that would put Chicago in a difficult postion, and would be Karmic justice for Cristo(NO)bol and his agent. People are so reactionary, lets give Theodore a shot, if he has problems GMGM has proven he can go out and make GREAT trades. Looking at the goalies who’ve played in the Cup finals since the lockout, not too many who you’d put in the top 10. Locking up Mike Green was priority # 1, 2, and 3!!! And that was done. Now we need Laich, Mo, Gordo, and hopefully Fedorov(if he’s reasonable) Thanks for your commitment and passion, we are truly lucky as sports fans.
I have lost a great deal of respect for one of my favorite bloggers. Neither of these guys are at the BrodeurLuongo level, and they are not far apart in age or talent.
Does OFB realize that matching Chicago’s offer would make it extremely hard to re-sign Semin and Backstrom in a couple of years? A two-year contract is perfect.
I am looking forward to an excellent season and post-season. Thanks Ted. Excellent work George.
I’m amazed that people are so upset by Huet signing somewhere else. He was a rental trade, and these things happen. While he did play well in the last 13 games, it was just that, 13 games (anybody remember John Druce?). Let’s not forget either that he had 18 skaters on his team in front of him too, and those skaters put the puck in the net at the other end more than Huet let them into his. Theodore is a fine choice, and signing Huet for four years at the $$$ he wanted would be ridiculous. If Huet plays out his shiny new contract in Chicago I would be surprised.
I completely agree (and I’ll throw this in as a STH who upgraded seats for this year).
I’m not sure what everyone was complaining about, or what they expected you to do.
1. Team matches offer request from desired goaltender. Said goaltender declines and requests team match offer that is too high, too long and impacts our ability to resign key players down the road.
2. Team acquires second best goaltender available, for a short term.
Not much else you could do, IMHO.
I have to agree with you here Ted. I was just getting ready to post a comment on OFB…pretty much asking for patience and a smidge of optimism. If one looks at both Huet and Theodore’s stats for both the 2nd half of last year, the time that Huet spent on the Caps and the playoffs, I think many people would be surprised. One bad year does not = a career.
Ted, I usually agree with YOU…but on this one you and McPhee BLEW IT.
You knew his market was 5 mil. You should have been thrilled he only wanted 3 years. You could have had the deal done months ago at 3 for 15 but you guys had to lowball with the 3.9 (?!?!), 4.2, 4.6. So of course when you agree to his terms ON JULY 1 he is going to check out some other offers. Remember that 400k per year you tried to save when we’re missing the playoffs or getting bounced in the first round. Hope I’m wrong.