ARLINGTON, VA.- It's funny how things sometimes work out in professional sports. Sometime during the 2005-06 NHL season Canadiens goalie Jose Theodore (below) lost his edge. The confidence and competetive fire that helped him win league MVP four years earlier was gone. Theodore would eventually lose his starting job, replaced by a guy Caps fans came to know last Spring- Christobal Huet.
Well, two years after Huet replaced Theodore in Montreal, Theodore is now replacing Huet here in Washington. Talk about a case of what goes around, comes around. The 31-year-old Theodore was formally introduced today at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex, having signed a two-year, $9 million deal with the Caps on last week's first day of free agency.
"Watching [the Caps] the past couple of years," said Theodore, "I saw them progress so well. When I saw things weren't getting done with Christobal, I knew there was going to be an opening, so I didn't want to sign to quick in Denver."
Theodore had been with the Colorado Avalanche since March 2006, convienantly playing his best hockey in the months leading up to free agency. Theodore was 28-21-3 with Colorado last season with a 2.44 goals against average. More importantly he led the Avalanche to the conference semi-finals, a round the Caps haven't reached since 1998.
"He's been there," said Coach Bruce Budreau. "He's been to the top of the mountain. He won the Hart, he won the Vezina (both in 2002). He's been in the playoffs, he's won playoff rounds, so he brings the experience. He's been the number-one goalie in very pressure cooked situations, so he can deal with a lot of things."
Theodore said part of the appeal to signing in Washington was the chance to have a certain "best player in the world," as his teammate. And the Capitals wide open, offense-first system, doesn't seem to phaze the netminder either.
"It just means for more highlight saves for me," he said.
Well, two years after Huet replaced Theodore in Montreal, Theodore is now replacing Huet here in Washington. Talk about a case of what goes around, comes around. The 31-year-old Theodore was formally introduced today at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex, having signed a two-year, $9 million deal with the Caps on last week's first day of free agency.
"Watching [the Caps] the past couple of years," said Theodore, "I saw them progress so well. When I saw things weren't getting done with Christobal, I knew there was going to be an opening, so I didn't want to sign to quick in Denver."
Theodore had been with the Colorado Avalanche since March 2006, convienantly playing his best hockey in the months leading up to free agency. Theodore was 28-21-3 with Colorado last season with a 2.44 goals against average. More importantly he led the Avalanche to the conference semi-finals, a round the Caps haven't reached since 1998.
"He's been there," said Coach Bruce Budreau. "He's been to the top of the mountain. He won the Hart, he won the Vezina (both in 2002). He's been in the playoffs, he's won playoff rounds, so he brings the experience. He's been the number-one goalie in very pressure cooked situations, so he can deal with a lot of things."
Theodore said part of the appeal to signing in Washington was the chance to have a certain "best player in the world," as his teammate. And the Capitals wide open, offense-first system, doesn't seem to phaze the netminder either.
"It just means for more highlight saves for me," he said.
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