Harvey Fialkov of the Sun Sentinel interviewed José at the practice facility where José worked out with some teammates.
I can't figure out how to embed his videos, so you can find it by following this link.
And you can see he cut his hair! ;o)
That was his look after an annoying question. ;o)
From Harvey Fialkov of the Sun Sentinel after José and a few others worked out at the Panthers practice facility this morning.
Article is found here.
Disgruntled Canucks goalie practices in Panthers facility and wants to be traded back here where he lives in offseason.
CORAL SPRINGS —
In a bizarre, slightly uncomfortable scene at Saveology.com Iceplex Tuesday morning, current Panthers goalie tandem Scott Clemmensen and Jose Theodore were beginning an informal practice with several teammates just moments after estranged Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo had finished his own skate.
Luongo has made it clear that since Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis promoted goalie Cory Schneider to starter with a three-year, $12 million contract extension, that he wants to be traded to the Panthers, the franchise he established his All-Star credentials with from 2001-06 and back to an area he still maintains an offseason residence with his wife and two young children.
So, Luongo, who practices here every offseason, literally, was about to sneak out the back door so he wouldn't create an awkward situation for Clemmensen and fellow Quebec native Theodore, whose job he covets. Luongo spoke to the Sun Sentinel before leaving.
"It's been a tough summer, not knowing what's going to happen,'' said Luongo, 33, while changing in the cramped visitor's locker room a few feet from where several Panthers were skating in an unofficial practice.
"It's tough to not know what your future is going to be with your family and everything. There were a couple of stressful moments, but we're still here and everything's good.
"[The Panthers] makes sense for myself, for my career and my family,'' added Luongo, who still has 10 years at $5.33 million per remaining on his deal. "That being said. There's obvious other options as well. This is a preferred location for obvious reasons but I'm not shutting the door on other possibilities if it comes up.''
Luongo has been linked to the Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs, both with glaring needs for an elite goalie. Panthers General Manager Dale Tallon, who signed Clemmensen to a two-year contract extension for $2.4 million this summer and has Theodore under contract for one more year at $1.5 million, has repeatedly said he's content with his current goalie trio, that includes promising Swede Jacob Markstrom.
While the involved parties are not allowed to discuss players under contract with another team, Tallon hasn't ruled out adding Luongo if the price is right. That price obviously doesn't include any of the Panthers promising prospects such as Quinton Howden, Jonathan Huberdeau and Alexander Petrovic.
Meanwhile, neither Theodore nor Clemmensen, both 35, are overly concerned with Luongo looking over their shoulders because both are under contract, plus Theodore has a no-trade clause.
Theodore, who had an outstanding comeback season, going 22-16-11 with a 2.46 goals-against average, has played for four teams in the last five years, so he's more than ready to establish roots for himself and his family. He wouldn't say if Tallon has asked him to waive his no-trade clause.
"At this point there's no use talking about speculation,'' Theodore said after a morning skate last week. "It's been a quiet summer for me. I didn't have to make any tough decisions on where to sign or where to go, a good quiet summer. I didn't really follow what went on. I was back home just relaxing and working out with my personal trainer.
"I want to retire here for sure. All the players were part of the process last year and it was a good start. I feel like I've got a lot more years in front of me and this is the place. I like the fans; I like where the team is going, the organization, so obviously, I want to be part of that process.''
Clemmensen, who enjoyed one of his finest seasons, going 14-6-6 with a 2.57 goals-against-average, is also wants to remain with the Panthers.
"It's useless energy wasted on speculating what might happen with him,'' Clemmensen said of Luongo. "We pretty much have the same lineup that we had last year, as far as goalies are concerned. I feel like we did a great job last year, the three of us who played at this level anyway. I feel confident and very excited to be in the same kind of scenario.''
Ironically, Luongo practiced with another former Panthers goalie – Tomas Vokoun – who was replaced by Theodore after signing with the Capitals last year. Vokoun is now in a backup situation with the Penguins.
At this point, all of the aforementioned goalies as well as their NHL brethren are in limbo with the owner's lockout looming when the current CBA expires on Sept. 15.
"It's awkward,'' Luongo said of possibly running into Theodore. "You don't like to hear rumors. It kind of puts us a little bit in the same boat. That's the business. Unfortunately, nobody likes to get traded. Nobody likes to move around. You wish you could start and end your career in the same city, but unfortunately this is a tough business and these things happen.''
Luongo, still the Panthers all-time leading goalie in games played (317), victories (108) and shutouts (26), said he hasn't spoken with Gillis recently, but he believes that his boss is waiting for the best deal. One thing Luongo knows for certain is that he isn't ready to be a backup, despite his less-than-sterling playoff results in recent years.
"Obviously, I want to start. That's a given,'' said Luongo, an avid cyclist who often rides to Palm Beach and back to his home in Parkland as part of training regimen.
"You're dealt different situations in life. You've got to handle them the right way. I don't know what's going to happen this year. The only thing I could do is work hard and have a positive atittude. At the end of the day, I'm sure everything is going to work out.''
By George Richards
As is the case each August, hockey players are slowly making their way south.
With school back in session and the start of the NHL season hopefully not too far away, the ice sheet at the Panthers training facility in Coral Springs is littered with hockey players both young and old — some members of the Florida Panthers and some not.
All are working their way into shape for the upcoming season as the Panthers plan to open training camp Sept. 23.
Of course, that might not be the case.
The league and its players are in the midst of yet another labor dispute with the collective bargaining agreement expiring on Sept. 15.
Commissioner Gary Bettman has said if a new deal isn’t reached by that time, the league will lock out its players for the third time under his watch.
There is some optimism a deal will get done, especially after the league’s latest proposal. Yet expectations are games will be missed. So what exactly are these players doing working out in August?
“Getting ready for November,” joked one former Panthers player who asked not to be identified. “I hope we play in October. But I also hope we play in November. We’re still getting ready.”
Few forget what happened during the last NHL lockout, one that wiped out the entire 2004-05 season. Things were different then, however, as a league that was once in financial disarray reported a record $3 billion in revenue last year.
Both the players and owners feel a deal can be worked out this time around. But both sides, as of today, are still far apart.
The league’s first proposal was to cut player revenue from the current 57 percent to around 43 percent. The NHL has moved from that number with its recent offer, one that would come closer to a 50 percent share between the owners and players.
The NHL’s recent offer is for six years, and it would see an initial drop in the salary cap with annual raises throughout the course of the CBA. The NHLPA could present its counter-offer to the league on Friday. Right now, the salary cap for the upcoming season is just over $70 million. Under the league’s latest offer, it would drop to $58 million.
According to capgeek.com, 16 teams would be over the cap if it goes to $58 million. The Panthers have about $54 million committed to next season not including unsigned defenseman Dmitry Kulikov.
The Florida Panthers are scheduled to open the 2012-13 season at home against Tampa Bay on Oct. 13.
“I’m optimistic we’re going to get something done,” Panthers defenseman Ed Jovanovski said. “You see a business side in every sport. Everyone wants a fair deal. As players, we’re more than willing to make things fair. But there are 700 people in our union and everything has to be agreed upon. I just hope we don’t miss any hockey.”
The Panthers, noting the uncertainty surrounding the issue, has already cancelled their rookie tournament scheduled for Sept. 15. The Lightning, Bruins and Hurricanes planned to take part. Florida will not cancel any preseason games until Sept. 15 passes.
“The last time around, I was 27 so I dealt with it as, ‘Oh, I have a lot more years left,’ ” Panthers goalie Jose Theodore said. “We had a good thing going last year and we really want to get back at it. I’m preparing as if nothing is going to happen, but you have it in the back of your mind. You worry this thing might drag out.”
Jovanovski was joined at the Panthers center on Tuesday by teammates Theodore, Peter Mueller and Tomas Kopecky. The players are using the ice at their facility as well as the locker room and everything else the Panthers have to offer, including staff support. But if Sept. 15 comes without a deal, the players will be on their own.
Former teammates Marco Sturm and Radek Dvorak were also on the ice as they get ready for a season of uncertainty for more reasons than one.
Sturm, who played for the Panthers last season, and Dvorak are both free agents. Neither is expected to sign with anyone until a new CBA is agreed upon.
For the most part, teams have shut down as they wait and see what happens next.
And players will be heading south with more frequency as the scheduled opening of training camp comes closer. NHL players around the league are working their bodies as if there will be a camp in September — even if their head tells them otherwise.
“I talked to [player representative] Mike Weaver the other day and he told me we’re working toward getting something done,” Jovanovski said. “The frustrating part is having a date in mind, a date to gear up for as we try to build off what we did here last year. We don’t want to miss any time and I hope we don’t.”
From George Richards of the Miami Herald
Panthers goalie Jose Theodore was one of a handful of players at the Coral Springs Iceplex on Tuesday as they gear up for what they hope will be a quick start to the 2012-13 season.
Joining Theodore on the ice today: Ed Jovanovski and Tomas Kopecky as well as former Panthers Marco Sturm and Radek Dvorak. Craig Anderson skated early. Scott Clemmensen is in town, although word is his equipment is not. He should be on the ice pretty soon.
Theodore told me today that he has indeed heard all the rumors -- and he is quite used to such talk. No big deal. And while he wouldn't answer my question on whether he was asked by the Panthers to waive his NTC, he did say he hasn't spoken to anyone with the Panthers or the Canucks.
Theodore did say, as I have as well, that with the labor uncertainty neither the Panthers nor Canucks are in any hurry to do anything just yet. Not saying a deal will get done -- but I'm not saying it can't, either.
With it being likely that Luongo stays in South Florida during the lockout, once a CBA deal gets reached, something between Florida and Vancouver could get done rather quickly.
Here's what Theodore had to say today.
ON THE END OF THE SEASON: It's always tough to lose a playoff series. I don't care how good you think you played in the series, if you lose, it's never a good feeling. You are always sour when you lose in the playoffs. We did accomplish a lot of things as a team, things people didn't expect us to do. Now it's time to find what our potential is. We're going the right direction. You can't take one step forward and two back. Right now we're moving forward. Teams will be ready for us. But we want to take it to the next level.
HOW DID YOU FEEL YOU PLAYED LAST SEASON: I liked what we did as a team. We did things people didn't expect. I don't like to talk about my individual play. At the end of the day, it's what the team does. I played over 50 games and as a team, we proved a lot of people wrong.
SURPRISED TO HEAR TALK FLORIDA MIGHT WANT LUONGO? Not at all. But as of now it's just rumors. You are always going to hear talk of this or that, but it doesn't take away from the team and what we have. Nothing can take away from what we did as a team last year.
It doesn't bother me at all. It doesn't change how I wake up in the morning or sleep at night. It's not going to change how I prepare myself. It doesn't change anything.
RUN INTO LUONGO IN MONTREAL?: I didn't. I usually see him down here more than I do up there. We've played together in All-Star games, for Team Canada. We have a good relationship. He's a great guy and he wants to be somewhere where he's wanted.
Thanks to Joey for bringing it to my attention that the Habs' website had a "Battle of the Masks" competition (voted on by fans.) They voted on all Habs goalie masks of the past. José made the list twice!
Here is the list.
Here is the #3 Habs goalie mask of all-time as voted by Habs fans.
And one of his early masks (from 1995-96) was #10!!
I was contacted by a man who asked if I had a photo of José’s chest protector from his days with the Wild. I thought some of the stuff he said about José’s gear was pretty cool, so I wanted to share. I will preface it with his warning: “I don’t know how accurate I am with this info but it’s what I’ve gathered over the years.”
In his words:
“As a goalie myself and goalie gear nerd Jose T. is one of the goalies with the most gear swag in the NHL! Why? Only goalie along with Brodeur to still rock the old school knee blocks/wraps (if you look at his knee set up when he drops it’s much different from any other goalie in the league, but still seals the ice flat, unlike Marty’s butterfly.) He has that extra extension on the back of his pants, different “Theodore bubble chin” mold mask, and nash palm on his glove.”
Now some photos to illustrate his points.
First, his "landing gear" in comparison to Henrik Lundqvist's "more modern" set-up. Christian said, “Jose’s knee block has his straps on the outside so it makes contact with the ice. Lundys knee strap is run on the inside so it has no contact on the ice.” (You probably need to high res the photos to see the strap, but it’s definitely noticeable. As far as C-A knows José (and possibly Marty) is the only one with the older style landing gear and with the strap on the outside of the landing gear.)
“His pad is an updated version of the Vaughn Legacys he wore while playing in Montreal. If you look at his old pics you can see the landing gear is still very similar to his old stuff compared to modern landing gears. The leather strap runs on the outside of the knee compared to within or inside the knee. Modern landing gear is much more blocky.”
I've always noticed the extension on the back of his pants, but I assumed everyone's was like this, but José's was more noticeable because he tucked his shirt in. But Christian says that José has his extended. Of course we don’t know why he prefers that, but he can only assume it’s for comfort and to keep his shirt tucked in better.
And you can see his landing gear and the strap very clearly here.
Then his skates: "He also wears black Bauer 7000’s model (old school discountinued), which are built the traditional way with leather instead of all the new carbon skates. I believe Halak and Bryz are other goalies who still rock ‘em."
(And I thought I read on a goalie forum one time that he runs his strap through a different part of his skate than many, but I’m not sure about that. I might be getting confused with someone else…I’ll have to try to find photos to compare that.)
He wrote back: “Marty use to be the goalie w/ the most ancient style pads, but now it’s Theodore! Theodore has a much longer calf wrap and does wear it snug. Marty loosened his pads a little this past season but still has a shorter calf wrap (nylon/foam looking sheet that wraps around calf.)”
And it kinda looks to me that Marty’s landing gear strap now is inside rather than outside like José’s, but I might not be seeing that clearly. I need to find a better photo to tell for sure.
I love that José is still sticking with what’s gotten him to this point. He seems to have his very own style with his equipment, just like he has his own style in street clothes. I love it!
So here is a comparison between José and Marty.
And if you compare this photo to the one from Florida you can see that his leg/calf wraps are still the same as when he was in Montreal.
Now on to his mask. He said: "José’s mask is a special version Itech/Bauer (made by Jerry Wright). Look at his masks (Minny/Colorado/Florida) and compare to all the other 961’s (Bryz, Bernier, Mason, Lundquvist, etc) out there, his has a different chin with a bubble/rounder look to it.”
Most of the goalies he mentioned wear chin danglers, and it's hard to see the chins of their masks, so I picked a photo of Quick instead. The difference is subtle, but you can tell the other goalies' narrow down more, whereas José's are more rounded, even though they are the same type of mask. He has his chin specially altered like that.
I believe I posted one of these already, but a fellow fan shared the other two with me over the weekend, so I wanted to post all 3 together. These were from Nov 2001. I was honestly confused by what he was doing at first, then I realized he was miming goalie positions. ;o) Thanks again to Marielle for sharing these.
