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Avalanche's Theodore will test free-agent market

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 26, 2008 at 10:42 a.m.

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Avalanche goalie Jose Theodore takes a break at the bench during a game against the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 8 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

Photo by Dave Reginek, Getty Images

Avalanche goalie Jose Theodore takes a break at the bench during a game against the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 8 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

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Contract talks between Jose Theodore and the Avalanche haven't necessarily broken down, but the parties have hit a snag in their discussions.

Theodore's agent, Don Meehan, said Thursday the 31-year-old goalie probably would enter the NHL's open market Tuesday as an unrestricted free agent.

The Avalanche still would be able to negotiate with Theodore if that happens, but so would every other team interested in acquiring a free-agent goalie in a market with few quality options.

Meehan said he and Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere have been attempting to work out a deal for a while and talked during last weekend's NHL entry draft in Ottawa but haven't been able to reach an agreement.

Meehan wouldn't rule out the possibility of something changing before Tuesday, when the league's free agency period begins.

"I would never say 'never,' " said Meehan, whose clients includes Avalanche forward Ryan Smyth.

Comments

  • June 26, 2008

    11:22 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    BWilliams writes:

    Stick to your guns on this one FG.

  • June 26, 2008

    11:49 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    thebrokenforum writes:

    Theodore was not worth the $$$ they shelled out. He's a classic big game choker. Let him go. We will fare better with Budaj in net.

  • June 26, 2008

    11:58 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    leighlar writes:

    Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! Best news I have heard all day.

  • June 26, 2008

    12:30 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    YourNeilness writes:

    Let him test the market, then re-sign him later for $500K as Budaj's backup.

  • June 26, 2008

    1:23 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    pat2717 writes:

    Denverbusinessman, Theodore has never signed a contract with the Avalanche. Semantics perhaps, but his contract was signed with Montreal. The Avalanche traded for him and therefore became responsible for his contract.

    I agree that he hasn't been what the Avs hoped for and it's troubling that his only exceptional seasons seem to be when he has a new contract negotiation coming up. I like it that the Avs are sticking to their guns on this one. I suspect that the negotiating sticking point is on the term more than the money. theo probably wants 3 or more years and the Avs probably want 2 or fewer years.

    On the other hand, all the comments like "Let him test the market, then re-sign him later for $500K as Budaj's backup" are ridiculous. If Theodore does test FA, he'll be in the top three goalies available. If he signs elsewhere, we're putting a lot of eggs in the Budaj basket. We can sign a recycled Goalie like Raycroft or stretch for Huet, but we probably won't be better off than we were last year. One thing is certain, without good goaltending, the Avs won't go far next year. The Theodore/Budaj combo gives us a very good chance of above average goaltending.

  • June 26, 2008

    3:13 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mike1969 writes:

    Everyone always blames the goalie... Theo had a decent season and letting him go is a bad move.

  • June 26, 2008

    4:42 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Squatch writes:

    Why not. All they could talk about was trading the guy all season when he wasnt living up to expectations.

  • June 26, 2008

    7:45 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    avsfanlarry writes:

    pat2717, good observation regarding signing him to a contract, let him test the waters and we can do the same, Budaj is as good as most of the league and probably better than Osgood.
    If people remember back when we acquired Patrick, it wasn't at the beginning of the season, other teams shuffle their 'decks' and we would be smart to go with Peter in the net and keep an eye out for another great deal. We might have our next starting goalie already within our system, hmmmm.

  • June 26, 2008

    11:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    IBleedOrange writes:

    I've been a goalie for 40 years, which I think qualifies me as a judge of ability. One, the Avs got fleeced when they picked Theodore up, along with his overpaid contract. He raised his game considerably this season (thank you, Jeff Hackett), and was the MVP of the Minnesota series. Against Detroit, he probably shouldn't have started when he was sick (don't forget), but that's Q's fault, and by the time he was recuperated, he was shellshocked and getting hung out to dry. If you traded him for Osgood before that series, the outcome would have been the same (remember what a savior Ozzy was for St. Louis? At 48, I'd look pretty good with Detroit's talent in front of me). So, don't try to hang that series on him.

    I think he's gotten his game back, but I don't think he's worth more than 4-4.5 mil, and that's a stretch. Budaj has solid mechanics, but he needs to clamp down on the softies he seems to give up every couple of games. Not to raise unfair comparisons, but a lot of what made Patrick so great was his "f*** you" attitude. I, and every goalie I know, says you're at your best when you look at every shooter, every scoring threat and every puck as a personal affront that you'll be damned if they're going to beat you. I'm not sure how much of that Budaj has. I like him, but I still wonder.

    If Theo gets away it'll be interesting to see how Budaj responds knowing he's The Guy.

  • June 27, 2008

    12:20 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jacka writes:

    See ya

  • June 27, 2008

    5:46 a.m.

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    platoro79 writes:

    Nice post IBleedOrange. Good to hear from someone who has a clue

  • June 27, 2008

    7:10 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    GJrodburner writes:

    Ibleedorange: dead on. Still, given the fact that Q is gone, can Granato do any better with Jose?

  • June 29, 2008

    12:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    coastiehero writes:

    IBleedOrange... Good comments on the current status of the
    Avs goalie dilemma. I think they should let Theodore go and
    see if Budaj can be the number one starter... if not we can
    always pick up a seasoned goaltender in free agency. The Avs
    will have to have strong goaltending in the upcoming season due
    to the fact that the Northwest is going to be very competitive
    and will most likely be going down to the wire once again.

    We need to be able to compete with and beat the Detroit
    Redwings, the Dallas Stars and other top teams in the NHL
    next season. Sure would like to see the Avs hoist the cup
    once again in the near future! Joe Sakic please come back
    for one more season (at least)!