Sept 19th is not that far away...(click for larger view)
Saturday, July 30, 2011
A Look Back at Some Goalie Love
Those of you who have followed me for a while know at least one thing about me...I love "goalie love." That awesome moment after your team has won the game, and everyone goes out to congratulate your goalie...they show him some love! And the best part of that scene? When the non-starting goalie congratulates the winning goalie...that's the stuff I live for. It was so much fun seeing that between José and Backs this past season, and I did my best to capture the love by screen capturing those moments.
So today I was trying to clean out our DVR. I have too many hockey games saved on there. I have to get them cleaned out before the new season starts. I miss the days of VCRs when you could save the VHS tapes FOREVER! This DVR business...I can only keep so much, and it's annoying to have that stuff kept in there. Progress...grrrr. ;o)
So I watched the January 25th game when the Wild beat Chicago. Backs played the game, and there were no shots of José even on the bench. Until goalie love. And for some reason, I hadn't screen captured that moment (probably because I couldn't watch the game online live on NHL Gamecenter Live, because of the Chicago blackout. And it would've been 48 hours before I could watch it, so I bet I just got busy with other games and didn't go back to the love.) So I did today, and here it is. Enjoy this during this long off-season!!
So today I was trying to clean out our DVR. I have too many hockey games saved on there. I have to get them cleaned out before the new season starts. I miss the days of VCRs when you could save the VHS tapes FOREVER! This DVR business...I can only keep so much, and it's annoying to have that stuff kept in there. Progress...grrrr. ;o)
So I watched the January 25th game when the Wild beat Chicago. Backs played the game, and there were no shots of José even on the bench. Until goalie love. And for some reason, I hadn't screen captured that moment (probably because I couldn't watch the game online live on NHL Gamecenter Live, because of the Chicago blackout. And it would've been 48 hours before I could watch it, so I bet I just got busy with other games and didn't go back to the love.) So I did today, and here it is. Enjoy this during this long off-season!!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Such a Happy Photo (and a few others too)
This was a pleasant find yesterday...so much happy in this photo set!
Inside the inset photo is Stephanie's sister, Veronique, and her husband Louis. Then that's Stephanie getting a big hug from someone. Must've been a happy moment at a Habs game.
Inside the inset photo is Stephanie's sister, Veronique, and her husband Louis. Then that's Stephanie getting a big hug from someone. Must've been a happy moment at a Habs game.
And I realize this is a blog about José, but Stephanie is certainly a big part of his life. And I thought these were cute pictures of Veronique and Stephanie (they were on Vero's Facebook page.)
Stephanie is in the middle and Veronique on the right.
I think she said these two were from 1986.
And then here's one with Veronique and Sebastien Benoit from Aug 2002. I know Sebastien had a TV show...maybe Veronique was on the show with him? José made more than one appearance with him (see bottom photo.)
Monday, July 18, 2011
Florida Panthers' José Theodore Wants to be Starter Again
From the Miami Herald
By George Richards
grichards@MiamiHerald.com
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After a frustrating season as a backup for Minnesota, Jose Theodore hopes to be the No. 1 goaltender for the Panthers, his new team.
When Tomas Vokoun turned down the Panthers’ final contract offer June 30, the team made it clear they would be moving on.
Vokoun spent four seasons as the starting goalie after Jacques Martin made a draft-day trade in 2007 with Nashville. Vokoun was Florida’s first option for next season, with a three-year deal having been offered. When he turned that down, the Panthers kept their word. One of the first players Florida signed when the free agency market opened July 1 was veteran netminder Jose Theodore.
When training camp opens in September, Theodore will come in as the starter. It’s his job to lose.
“I was put in a role last year that I don’t think I should have been in,’’ said Theodore, who will compete with Scott Clemmensen and possibly Jacob Markstrom. Theodore was a backup in Minnesota last season. “I accepted the role because I am a good teammate.
“But last year I could have played 50-55 games. I want to return to playing at a high level. I’m just going to do my stuff, do my thing. If you want to play, you have to be the best guy. If Scott Clemmensen outplays me, I expect him to play. If I play better, I expect to play.’’
Vokoun left the Panthers expecting to find riches somewhere else. When the free agency period opened, Vokoun was the second-rated available player by Canada’s TSN. It was thought if he didn’t end up with the Panthers — and once Theodore was signed, that was over — he would get a big contract with Colorado or Phoenix.
But Colorado made a big trade with Washington and secured Semyon Varlamov, and Phoenix signed former Tampa Bay starter Mike Smith.
The market for Vokoun quickly dried up. Instead of waiting around, Vokoun signed a one-year deal July 2 with the Capitals for $1.5 million. Now that things have settled, this might turn out to be a great move for Vokoun. Yes, he lost out on short-term money and he only has a one-year contract. But, with the Capitals, Vokoun gets to play for a winning team, one some believe is poised to make a run to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Similar anxiety
Theodore knows what Vokoun was going through in the first couple of days of being a free agent — because he went through a similar situation just last year. A free agent after not re-signing with Washington, Theodore found himself with no job. Unlike Vokoun, the wait was long.
When Theodore finally found a team, it was just before the season started. The Wild needed a backup for Niklas Backstrom after Josh Harding hurt his knee and was lost for the season. Theodore, who was 30-7-7 for the Capitals the season before, had to wait until the last minute to get a job.
“After the last year I had in Washington, I really thought on July 1 I would have a lot of calls to be a No. 1 goalie,’’ said Theodore, who will be 35 by opening night. “It didn’t happen. This year I had plenty of options. It’s just key to sign July 1. You can get everything out of the way and then you can start training again and turn the focus toward the season.’’
Theodore played out his year with the Wild last season, winning 15 of the 32 games he appeared in. Theodore’s play in Minnesota was enough for the Panthers to decide on bringing him in. Theodore was given a two-year deal worth $3 million.
The Panthers said they are fine with Theodore and Clemmensen as their likely tandem moving forward. Goalie coach Robb Tallas said he was watched plenty of tape of Theodore’s past few seasons and believes he still has plenty remaining.
Benefit of a duel
Theodore and Clemmensen both agree that competition is good and should keep both goalies sharp. Even though Vokoun was challenged by Craig Anderson and Clemmensen during his time with the Panthers, he never really felt his job was in danger — mostly because of the large salary he drew.
Florida’s current situation is different, however, as either goalie could be called upon to start. And Markstrom, 21, is a wild card. Markstrom was recently at Florida’s prospect development camp, although he didn’t participate as he continues to rehab a knee injury sustained last season.
Markstrom, a second-round pick by the Panthers in 2008, is Florida’s goalie-in-waiting. After a slow start in the minors last season, Markstrom was playing strong before injuring the meniscus in his knee. He will be at training camp this year, as well. As he said, he’s not coming to work on his tan.
“I’m a lot more confident on and off the ice,’’ Markstrom said. “I know what’s waiting for me here. Last year, everything was new. I feel a lot better being around here now.’’
By George Richards
grichards@MiamiHerald.com
After a frustrating season as a backup for Minnesota, Jose Theodore hopes to be the No. 1 goaltender for the Panthers, his new team.
When Tomas Vokoun turned down the Panthers’ final contract offer June 30, the team made it clear they would be moving on.
Vokoun spent four seasons as the starting goalie after Jacques Martin made a draft-day trade in 2007 with Nashville. Vokoun was Florida’s first option for next season, with a three-year deal having been offered. When he turned that down, the Panthers kept their word. One of the first players Florida signed when the free agency market opened July 1 was veteran netminder Jose Theodore.
When training camp opens in September, Theodore will come in as the starter. It’s his job to lose.
“I was put in a role last year that I don’t think I should have been in,’’ said Theodore, who will compete with Scott Clemmensen and possibly Jacob Markstrom. Theodore was a backup in Minnesota last season. “I accepted the role because I am a good teammate.
“But last year I could have played 50-55 games. I want to return to playing at a high level. I’m just going to do my stuff, do my thing. If you want to play, you have to be the best guy. If Scott Clemmensen outplays me, I expect him to play. If I play better, I expect to play.’’
Vokoun left the Panthers expecting to find riches somewhere else. When the free agency period opened, Vokoun was the second-rated available player by Canada’s TSN. It was thought if he didn’t end up with the Panthers — and once Theodore was signed, that was over — he would get a big contract with Colorado or Phoenix.
But Colorado made a big trade with Washington and secured Semyon Varlamov, and Phoenix signed former Tampa Bay starter Mike Smith.
The market for Vokoun quickly dried up. Instead of waiting around, Vokoun signed a one-year deal July 2 with the Capitals for $1.5 million. Now that things have settled, this might turn out to be a great move for Vokoun. Yes, he lost out on short-term money and he only has a one-year contract. But, with the Capitals, Vokoun gets to play for a winning team, one some believe is poised to make a run to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Similar anxiety
Theodore knows what Vokoun was going through in the first couple of days of being a free agent — because he went through a similar situation just last year. A free agent after not re-signing with Washington, Theodore found himself with no job. Unlike Vokoun, the wait was long.
When Theodore finally found a team, it was just before the season started. The Wild needed a backup for Niklas Backstrom after Josh Harding hurt his knee and was lost for the season. Theodore, who was 30-7-7 for the Capitals the season before, had to wait until the last minute to get a job.
“After the last year I had in Washington, I really thought on July 1 I would have a lot of calls to be a No. 1 goalie,’’ said Theodore, who will be 35 by opening night. “It didn’t happen. This year I had plenty of options. It’s just key to sign July 1. You can get everything out of the way and then you can start training again and turn the focus toward the season.’’
Theodore played out his year with the Wild last season, winning 15 of the 32 games he appeared in. Theodore’s play in Minnesota was enough for the Panthers to decide on bringing him in. Theodore was given a two-year deal worth $3 million.
The Panthers said they are fine with Theodore and Clemmensen as their likely tandem moving forward. Goalie coach Robb Tallas said he was watched plenty of tape of Theodore’s past few seasons and believes he still has plenty remaining.
Benefit of a duel
Theodore and Clemmensen both agree that competition is good and should keep both goalies sharp. Even though Vokoun was challenged by Craig Anderson and Clemmensen during his time with the Panthers, he never really felt his job was in danger — mostly because of the large salary he drew.
Florida’s current situation is different, however, as either goalie could be called upon to start. And Markstrom, 21, is a wild card. Markstrom was recently at Florida’s prospect development camp, although he didn’t participate as he continues to rehab a knee injury sustained last season.
Markstrom, a second-round pick by the Panthers in 2008, is Florida’s goalie-in-waiting. After a slow start in the minors last season, Markstrom was playing strong before injuring the meniscus in his knee. He will be at training camp this year, as well. As he said, he’s not coming to work on his tan.
“I’m a lot more confident on and off the ice,’’ Markstrom said. “I know what’s waiting for me here. Last year, everything was new. I feel a lot better being around here now.’’
Last Man Standing: How Will the Florida Panthers' Netminders Fare?
This was posted on The Litter Box at SB Nation.
by Ryan Meier on July 17, 2011
Perhaps one of the biggest stories this offseason for the Florida Panthers is the loss of Tomas Vokoun, who has departed for greener and likely playoff-bound pastures after signing with the Washington Capitals. As Panther fans and those around the league know, Vokoun was perennially a top-ten goalie, capable of stealing games for a team that really had no business winning on a regular basis. His numbers were often impressive despite the roster in front of him: since joining the Panthers in 2007, Vokoun averaged a .923 save percentage, a 2.57 GAA and almost six shutouts per season. Let us not forget too that he saw a lot more rubber than most netminders, as the Panthers have led the league in shots against two out of the last four seasons. There's no question that Vokoun earned his money in his time as a Panther, and it was a shame he wasn't rewarded with a playoff berth for all his hard work.
Alas, "Vokie" is gone, and a new crop of goalies have stepped forward to carry the torch into the 2011-2012 NHL season. We're all familiar with Scott Clemmensen, who played in relief of Vokoun over the last two seasons, albeit in limited time as Vokoun received majority of the starts. The other major player is Jose Theodore, one of the big free agency signings by Dale Tallon and Mike Santos on July 1. A former Hart and Vezina winner, Theodore has seen better days as an NHL starter, but has still posted some very solid numbers during his tours in Washington and Minnesota. Tallon and company likely brought Theodore on board as the primary starter, but Clemmensen has shown some real flashes of brilliance in his short NHL stint, and will likely compete hard for a chance at the starting gig.
The real question is: Which one will be "The Man" in Florida?
Experience: Theodore has started almost five times as many NHL games as Clemmensen, and is almost a year older. He's got a lot more wear on the tires, as majority of Clemmensen's career has been as a backup. Theodore has shown he has the skills and tenacity to handle a full workload, as he has started over 50 games in a season six different times in his career. Logic would lend itself to Theodore getting the nod as the go-to guy then, as he has proven in his career he can handle the load. It's very likely head coach Kevin Dineen will choose to rest Theodore as he sees fit, and with a vastly improved Panther defensive corps and a new puck possession-oriented system being set into place, the number of shots against will most likely be down from last season. I would expect Theodore to get the majority of the starts, but knowing the wear and tear, he should again see around 50-55 starts this season.
Stats: Comparatively, Clemmensen and Theodore are not too far apart, aside from the larger sample size of games Theodore has started in the NHL. Both have a career .909 save percentage, down from Vokoun's .915 career average. Theodore has a lifetime 2.69 GAA; Clemmensen a 2.66. What's important to note is the statistical analysis related to the teams they've both played on. Theodore faced significantly more shots during his earlier seasons in Montreal and later in Washington, playing behind more offensively-oriented teams, while Clemmensen, playing in relief of an injured Martin Brodeur, played behind one of the best defensive teams in the league during the season where he turned heads with his solid play off the bench. In the end, statistics won't tell us too much here, except for the fact that Theodore has had a lot more experience as a starter (read: proven), and on teams that were less defensively-oriented than the New Jersey Devils.
Playoffs: There's absolutely no question who has this category in their favor: Theodore has started 51 NHL playoff games. That being said, he's only won 19 of them. There's a bit of a perception that Theodore tends to lose his composure in the playoffs, and that was obvious during his time as a Capital, where he was yanked from two straight postseason series in favor of youngster Semyon Varlamov. However, anyone who watched those games knows that Theodore was not the only one in a Caps jersey at fault. Conversely, Clemmensen has played (not started) in a single NHL playoff game as a member of the Devils, and obviously hasn't had a whiff of the postseason since he left New Jersey. Pretty safe to assume that if the Panthers make it that far this coming season, Theodore will be the man in the cage for the Cats.
Shootouts: As we all know, the difference between a playoff spot and a tee time can come down to a single point, and so shootouts are a very, very important category. Both goalies have similar numbers. Over the last three seasons, Theodore has posted an 8-7 record, while Clemmensen has posted a 6-5 record. However, it's worth noting that Theodore had guys like Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom in his shootout lineup, while Clemmensen was looking at a supporting cast featuring Rostislav Olesz, Cory Stillman and David Booth. Little bit of a difference, no?
Intangibles: Theodore has shown a lot of resiliency the last several years, dealing with the passing of a child off the ice, and his new role as a backup/mentor on the ice. As hard as all of those issues have been, he has still acted professionally in each organization he's been a part of, and posted solid numbers to boot. He'll have a chance in Florida to step back into a featured role and be a leader on a team that is still coming to terms with its new identity and character. Clemmesen has been here for several seasons now and, in the final year of his current contract, will be playing not only for a chance to be a starter this season, but a chance to continue his career in the NHL, possibly even with another team. There's no question Clemmensen has had to work hard to earn what he's gotten in his career, and that will have to continue into this season if he's going to have a shot at the starting role in net.
One of these guys has won a Hart and Vezina. The other has been mostly a career backup. Should that matter? Not in the slightest. There will be a solid battle in camp this season between these two, and no matter what happens in camp, Dineen will ride the hot hand throughout the season, resting them only when necessary. Still, there's a lot in favor of Theodore being the main netminder throughout the season, and if he is able to have a renaissance season in South Florida, the Panthers and their fans will be able to quickly forget Vokoun and hope for an end to the postseason drought.
by Ryan Meier on July 17, 2011
Perhaps one of the biggest stories this offseason for the Florida Panthers is the loss of Tomas Vokoun, who has departed for greener and likely playoff-bound pastures after signing with the Washington Capitals. As Panther fans and those around the league know, Vokoun was perennially a top-ten goalie, capable of stealing games for a team that really had no business winning on a regular basis. His numbers were often impressive despite the roster in front of him: since joining the Panthers in 2007, Vokoun averaged a .923 save percentage, a 2.57 GAA and almost six shutouts per season. Let us not forget too that he saw a lot more rubber than most netminders, as the Panthers have led the league in shots against two out of the last four seasons. There's no question that Vokoun earned his money in his time as a Panther, and it was a shame he wasn't rewarded with a playoff berth for all his hard work.
Alas, "Vokie" is gone, and a new crop of goalies have stepped forward to carry the torch into the 2011-2012 NHL season. We're all familiar with Scott Clemmensen, who played in relief of Vokoun over the last two seasons, albeit in limited time as Vokoun received majority of the starts. The other major player is Jose Theodore, one of the big free agency signings by Dale Tallon and Mike Santos on July 1. A former Hart and Vezina winner, Theodore has seen better days as an NHL starter, but has still posted some very solid numbers during his tours in Washington and Minnesota. Tallon and company likely brought Theodore on board as the primary starter, but Clemmensen has shown some real flashes of brilliance in his short NHL stint, and will likely compete hard for a chance at the starting gig.
The real question is: Which one will be "The Man" in Florida?
Experience: Theodore has started almost five times as many NHL games as Clemmensen, and is almost a year older. He's got a lot more wear on the tires, as majority of Clemmensen's career has been as a backup. Theodore has shown he has the skills and tenacity to handle a full workload, as he has started over 50 games in a season six different times in his career. Logic would lend itself to Theodore getting the nod as the go-to guy then, as he has proven in his career he can handle the load. It's very likely head coach Kevin Dineen will choose to rest Theodore as he sees fit, and with a vastly improved Panther defensive corps and a new puck possession-oriented system being set into place, the number of shots against will most likely be down from last season. I would expect Theodore to get the majority of the starts, but knowing the wear and tear, he should again see around 50-55 starts this season.
Stats: Comparatively, Clemmensen and Theodore are not too far apart, aside from the larger sample size of games Theodore has started in the NHL. Both have a career .909 save percentage, down from Vokoun's .915 career average. Theodore has a lifetime 2.69 GAA; Clemmensen a 2.66. What's important to note is the statistical analysis related to the teams they've both played on. Theodore faced significantly more shots during his earlier seasons in Montreal and later in Washington, playing behind more offensively-oriented teams, while Clemmensen, playing in relief of an injured Martin Brodeur, played behind one of the best defensive teams in the league during the season where he turned heads with his solid play off the bench. In the end, statistics won't tell us too much here, except for the fact that Theodore has had a lot more experience as a starter (read: proven), and on teams that were less defensively-oriented than the New Jersey Devils.
Playoffs: There's absolutely no question who has this category in their favor: Theodore has started 51 NHL playoff games. That being said, he's only won 19 of them. There's a bit of a perception that Theodore tends to lose his composure in the playoffs, and that was obvious during his time as a Capital, where he was yanked from two straight postseason series in favor of youngster Semyon Varlamov. However, anyone who watched those games knows that Theodore was not the only one in a Caps jersey at fault. Conversely, Clemmensen has played (not started) in a single NHL playoff game as a member of the Devils, and obviously hasn't had a whiff of the postseason since he left New Jersey. Pretty safe to assume that if the Panthers make it that far this coming season, Theodore will be the man in the cage for the Cats.
Shootouts: As we all know, the difference between a playoff spot and a tee time can come down to a single point, and so shootouts are a very, very important category. Both goalies have similar numbers. Over the last three seasons, Theodore has posted an 8-7 record, while Clemmensen has posted a 6-5 record. However, it's worth noting that Theodore had guys like Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom in his shootout lineup, while Clemmensen was looking at a supporting cast featuring Rostislav Olesz, Cory Stillman and David Booth. Little bit of a difference, no?
Intangibles: Theodore has shown a lot of resiliency the last several years, dealing with the passing of a child off the ice, and his new role as a backup/mentor on the ice. As hard as all of those issues have been, he has still acted professionally in each organization he's been a part of, and posted solid numbers to boot. He'll have a chance in Florida to step back into a featured role and be a leader on a team that is still coming to terms with its new identity and character. Clemmesen has been here for several seasons now and, in the final year of his current contract, will be playing not only for a chance to be a starter this season, but a chance to continue his career in the NHL, possibly even with another team. There's no question Clemmensen has had to work hard to earn what he's gotten in his career, and that will have to continue into this season if he's going to have a shot at the starting role in net.
One of these guys has won a Hart and Vezina. The other has been mostly a career backup. Should that matter? Not in the slightest. There will be a solid battle in camp this season between these two, and no matter what happens in camp, Dineen will ride the hot hand throughout the season, resting them only when necessary. Still, there's a lot in favor of Theodore being the main netminder throughout the season, and if he is able to have a renaissance season in South Florida, the Panthers and their fans will be able to quickly forget Vokoun and hope for an end to the postseason drought.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Another Article About José and His Signing
Been There, Done That: The Jose Theodore Saga
By Bill Whitehead
Newly acquired Florida Panthers goalie Jose Theodore knows all too well about the current goalie market. It’s about as kind to money-seeking netminders as a Steven Stamkos one-timer on the power play. He also considers himself lucky to be a Panther, knows what former teammate Tomas Vokoun is going through and understands his role.
“What I’ve been looking for is consistency, and I’ve had it the last few years,” Theodore said last Friday at BankAtlantic Center. “The last two years in Washington we had a great team. My last year in Washington I felt really confident.”
Theodore, now 34, expected to cash in on a big payday after going 30-7-7 for the President’s Trophy-winning Capitals in that final season in DC. He ended the regular season strong, posting a 20-0-4 mark, but he was pulled in Game 2 and never returned as the Caps were upset by Montreal.
Surely the body of work he authored in the regular season would outweigh the quick, disappointing postseason showing and guarantee him a hefty contract, right?
“I thought when July 1 came I’d get offers as a No. 1 guy, but you could see the way the market was going,” said Theodore, who signed with Minnesota last season to back up starter Niklas Backstrom. “Sometimes the offers are not coming. Last year was a great opportunity for me to show people that you can put me on any team and I can do my job. I finished with a winning record (15-11-3). I just want to show people what I’m capable of doing.”
The goaltender market did change for the financial betterment of one player, former Phoenix Coyote Ilya Bryzgalov. The Philadelphia Flyers, plagued for years by schizophrenic play in net, signed the 31-year-old Russian to a nine-year, $51 million deal. Writer Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News reported last week that the Flyers began floating goalie Sergei Bobrovsky out on the market after signing Bryzgalov, but there were no bites. A similar situation faced Vokoun, whom Theodore played with in 1996 in Montreal and Fredericton of the AHL.
“You could see what happened to Vokoun,” Theodore said. “My take is what happened to him right before. If you get available on July 1 as a No. 1 goalie, you’re looking for No. 1 goalie money, just like I was when I had 30 wins and seven losses. Then the teams start signing guys at $1.5 (million), 1.2, 1.6, and the next thing you know there’s no opening.
“From what I could see, after July 1 I was just wondering where would Tomas go. Philly had Bryz. All the teams where he had a chance to go — Denver, Phoenix — they all signed goalies. So you’re like, ‘Well, he’s a great goalie, really a top goalie, but if there’s no room there’s no room.’ I was kind of surprised. It just seems like now a lot of guys are getting signed for 1.5 or 1.7.”
When faced with his second July 1 free agent decision almost two weeks ago, Theodore didn’t hesitate. The 2002 Hart and Vezina trophies winner said he wanted to play in Florida, where his parents vacationed in nearby Boca Raton, and contacted his agent about the possibility of playing in Sunrise.
“When July 1 comes, a lot of times it’s a gamble,” he said. “You have a quick call and it’s like take it or leave it now or they’re going to sign another guy. You can’t wait for the next offer. I know for myself that when Florida called, that was my No. 1 choice. That’s the truth. I told my agent, ‘If you can make something happen with Florida, forget the rest.’ It was my No. 1 choice.”
Ultimately, Theodore said he expects to play well, and his numbers over the past four years in the NHL have been strong — 105-56-15. Also, he realizes his mentor’s role with young Swedish goalie Jacob Markstrom, the Panthers’ highly touted phenom who is recovering from a knee injury.
“Markstrom’s a top prospect. And like I did with (Semyon) Varlamov and (Michal) Neuvirth in Washington, I’m a team guy at the end of the day. And if I can help these kids out to have a good career and show them a trick here and there, I really enjoy that part of the game now at that point in my career. I’m looking forward to meeting him and just trying to help him the best I can. If he can be dominating for the next 10 or years, perfect. I’m looking forward to meeting the kid.”
If a Florida fan were arguing as to who might be the most important piece of the possible/potential postseason puzzle that GM Dale Tallon has been assembling, a convincing discussion might center around the Laval, Quebec, native and his right-handed catching success between the pipes. Without it, Florida likely won’t get very far. With it, the Panthers could be playing meaningful games in late March and maybe in April, too.
But for right now, let Jose Theodore enjoy the moment. He’s just happy to be here.
By Bill Whitehead
NHLHS Florida Panthers Credentialed Correspondent
Twitter: @BillWhiteheadFL
Email: BillWhiteheadFL@hotmail.com
By Bill Whitehead
Newly acquired Florida Panthers goalie Jose Theodore knows all too well about the current goalie market. It’s about as kind to money-seeking netminders as a Steven Stamkos one-timer on the power play. He also considers himself lucky to be a Panther, knows what former teammate Tomas Vokoun is going through and understands his role.
“What I’ve been looking for is consistency, and I’ve had it the last few years,” Theodore said last Friday at BankAtlantic Center. “The last two years in Washington we had a great team. My last year in Washington I felt really confident.”
Theodore, now 34, expected to cash in on a big payday after going 30-7-7 for the President’s Trophy-winning Capitals in that final season in DC. He ended the regular season strong, posting a 20-0-4 mark, but he was pulled in Game 2 and never returned as the Caps were upset by Montreal.
Surely the body of work he authored in the regular season would outweigh the quick, disappointing postseason showing and guarantee him a hefty contract, right?
“I thought when July 1 came I’d get offers as a No. 1 guy, but you could see the way the market was going,” said Theodore, who signed with Minnesota last season to back up starter Niklas Backstrom. “Sometimes the offers are not coming. Last year was a great opportunity for me to show people that you can put me on any team and I can do my job. I finished with a winning record (15-11-3). I just want to show people what I’m capable of doing.”
The goaltender market did change for the financial betterment of one player, former Phoenix Coyote Ilya Bryzgalov. The Philadelphia Flyers, plagued for years by schizophrenic play in net, signed the 31-year-old Russian to a nine-year, $51 million deal. Writer Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News reported last week that the Flyers began floating goalie Sergei Bobrovsky out on the market after signing Bryzgalov, but there were no bites. A similar situation faced Vokoun, whom Theodore played with in 1996 in Montreal and Fredericton of the AHL.
“You could see what happened to Vokoun,” Theodore said. “My take is what happened to him right before. If you get available on July 1 as a No. 1 goalie, you’re looking for No. 1 goalie money, just like I was when I had 30 wins and seven losses. Then the teams start signing guys at $1.5 (million), 1.2, 1.6, and the next thing you know there’s no opening.
“From what I could see, after July 1 I was just wondering where would Tomas go. Philly had Bryz. All the teams where he had a chance to go — Denver, Phoenix — they all signed goalies. So you’re like, ‘Well, he’s a great goalie, really a top goalie, but if there’s no room there’s no room.’ I was kind of surprised. It just seems like now a lot of guys are getting signed for 1.5 or 1.7.”
When faced with his second July 1 free agent decision almost two weeks ago, Theodore didn’t hesitate. The 2002 Hart and Vezina trophies winner said he wanted to play in Florida, where his parents vacationed in nearby Boca Raton, and contacted his agent about the possibility of playing in Sunrise.
“When July 1 comes, a lot of times it’s a gamble,” he said. “You have a quick call and it’s like take it or leave it now or they’re going to sign another guy. You can’t wait for the next offer. I know for myself that when Florida called, that was my No. 1 choice. That’s the truth. I told my agent, ‘If you can make something happen with Florida, forget the rest.’ It was my No. 1 choice.”
Ultimately, Theodore said he expects to play well, and his numbers over the past four years in the NHL have been strong — 105-56-15. Also, he realizes his mentor’s role with young Swedish goalie Jacob Markstrom, the Panthers’ highly touted phenom who is recovering from a knee injury.
“Markstrom’s a top prospect. And like I did with (Semyon) Varlamov and (Michal) Neuvirth in Washington, I’m a team guy at the end of the day. And if I can help these kids out to have a good career and show them a trick here and there, I really enjoy that part of the game now at that point in my career. I’m looking forward to meeting him and just trying to help him the best I can. If he can be dominating for the next 10 or years, perfect. I’m looking forward to meeting the kid.”
If a Florida fan were arguing as to who might be the most important piece of the possible/potential postseason puzzle that GM Dale Tallon has been assembling, a convincing discussion might center around the Laval, Quebec, native and his right-handed catching success between the pipes. Without it, Florida likely won’t get very far. With it, the Panthers could be playing meaningful games in late March and maybe in April, too.
But for right now, let Jose Theodore enjoy the moment. He’s just happy to be here.
By Bill Whitehead
NHLHS Florida Panthers Credentialed Correspondent
Twitter: @BillWhiteheadFL
Email: BillWhiteheadFL@hotmail.com
Monday, July 11, 2011
More Interview Video
Another bit of José interview showed up over at GrowlTV (that's what the video channel is called at the Panthers' website.)
http://video.panthers.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=0&id=120597
My favorite part was when he was asked the difference between Scott Clemmensen and him:
“A big, big difference between me and Scott…I’m far from a Jimmy Buffet fan! I used to skateboard a lot when I was young, so I really like hard music, punk music, and heavy metal music. So it’s far from Margaritaville.”
And his smiles when talking about it were just adorable!!
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http://video.panthers.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=0&id=120597
My favorite part was when he was asked the difference between Scott Clemmensen and him:
“A big, big difference between me and Scott…I’m far from a Jimmy Buffet fan! I used to skateboard a lot when I was young, so I really like hard music, punk music, and heavy metal music. So it’s far from Margaritaville.”
And his smiles when talking about it were just adorable!!
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