SuperHuet!

Nil d · Guru

SuperHuet!

barry33 · Guru

What we need to remember about a Goalie is that it is a very fragile position to play. If you look at past performances, there are goalies who just got into a groove and got really hot at the right time. Theodore, Gigieure, Steve Penny all come to mind. These are all goalies who are obviously talented but they went through a stage that Huet is in now. As a goalie, you get into a "zone", where you see the puck like it was a beachball, you do all the right things. Theo did that a couple years ago in his MVP season. Many here have said that season was a fluke but I disagree. Theo has tons of talent. And I am going on a limb here to say that he will regain that form in Colorado. But when things start going badly as a goalie, it is like a snowball going downhill and it is so tough to get out of that rut. Look at Gigeure with the Ducks a few years back. Stood on his head in the playoffs and carrie dthem to the final. Signes a HUGE contract and now is very mediocre at best. Steve Penny stood on his head one playoff year in Montreal and then faded away.

My point is that I will not get to up, nor too down, on Huet. He is in a zone right now. This time next year we could all be just as easily pooping all over him like we did Theo.

The Kahuna · Guru

Another thing about playing goal is it's a good thing to be unknown in most cases. Huet is very new to the eastern teams. Coaches and players study and learn goalies, they have not really had the chance to do this with Huet as they've only seen him in 30 games. Most goalies (except Hasek) are very predictable, and when their weakness or weaknesses are discovered, they're exploited. Steve Penney, Brian
Boucher & Felix Potvin are 3 examples that come to mind.

barry33 · Guru

The Kahuna wrote:

Another thing about playing goal is it's a good thing to be unknown in most cases. Huet is very new to the eastern teams. Coaches and players study and learn goalies, they have not really had the chance to do this with Huet as they've only seen him in 30 games. Most goalies (except Hasek) are very predictable, and when their weakness or weaknesses are discovered, they're exploited. Steve Penney, Brian Boucher & Felix Potvin are 3 examples that come to mind.

No one hopes that he will not be a flash in the pan more than I do. But I just find it kinda ironic. Two years ago everyone on this board felt that Theo was the second coming of Moses and could part the red sea and walk on water. This year he was called everything from an idiot to useless. Do not be surpised to see the same turnaround with Huet in a year or so.

The Kahuna · Guru

The thing in Huet's favour is that his positional play and lateral movement are excellent, among the best I've seen in recent years. He is making tough saves look like routine saves and that's the mark of a solid goalie. His confidence is incredible right now and his demeanor is very eay going, he's one of the most unflappable goalies I've seen in years. IMHO the above all speaks well for Huet having a solid career. Now lets see if the fans and press in Montreal can change that

People jumped all over Theo waaaaayyy too easily in my opinion. He started off the season playing very well, then he went into a slump...newsflash, this happens to ALL goalies! This even happens to goalies who don't have as much crap swirling around them as Theo did. I have no doubt that Theo would have returned to form in Montreal, but if he really was a locker room distraction (something I'm not convinced he was), then he had to be moved.

-- Edited by The Kahuna at 11:09, 2006-04-09

24 Rings · Guru

Huna, I totally disagree about Theo. His wasn't a slump, but a total meltdown. Couple his awful play with the hair debacle and him injuring his ankle away from the game and it was just a horrible mess. Theo may have eventually returned to form, but the Habs didn't have the luxury of waiting around for it. I honestly think that his Hart trophy year was an anomoly, because for the 2 seasons after that he was average, including an absolutely terrible 2006.

AB Habman · Guru

Nil d wrote:

I was checking out Huet's stats this morning. After last night's game, he is second in the league in GAA (2.14, behind Hasek's 2.09) and first by a mile in save "%" (.930). Oh, and second in shutouts (6) - and just in 30 starts! Definitely the Habs' MVP - and if he keeps this up for another ten games, should even get some Hart votes. And here are some funny stats: In Hamilton (AHL) earlier in the year; in four games, between November 16 and November 25, suffered four losses, had a goals against average of 3.79 and a save "%" of .862... Go figure. (I know, I know, it was rehab assignment, but stilll........) -- Edited by Nil d at 07:32, 2006-03-29

Good post Nil! I don't think this guy is a shot in the dark.

He's so fundamentally solid, that I don't think any of it is fluke! Plus being big, helps cover alot of net.

I like his butterfly because he moves across with one leg across the other rather than in a V and knees together which of course exposes the five hole when moving laterally. Notice how he rarely gets beat low when he's down. Really good technique. He doesn't have to shoot up and reposition before the rebound shots. He can remain calm and be more effective than I guy like Theo who has to move so much more to cover more net.

The Kahuna · Guru

24 Rings wrote:

Huna, I totally disagree about Theo. His wasn't a slump, but a total meltdown. Couple his awful play with the hair debacle and him injuring his ankle away from the game and it was just a horrible mess. Theo may have eventually returned to form, but the Habs didn't have the luxury of waiting around for it. I honestly think that his Hart trophy year was an anomoly, because for the 2 seasons after that he was average, including an absolutely terrible 2006.

I would say Theo's season fell apart in early to mid November, but before that he had 2 really good months.

Here's a sample of Theo's first 15 games, If I were to look back on this very forum, I'd bet money everyone was praising him.

3-2 TOR 20 saves

5-2 BOS 27 saves

2-1 BOS 29 saves

4-3 NYR 16 saves

2-0 ATL 19 saves

4-3 BOS 20 saves

4-1 NYR 23 saves

5-4 FLA 26 saves

3-2 TPA 32 saves

Record as of November 8th 10-3-2

Now Theo is gone, we should all move on. But I'm just not going to sit idly by and listen to everyone tell me what a bum Theo is. Next season (or maybe this one) Theo will either confirm what his detractors or supporters are saying. I still say he was great for the Habs and one of the best positional goalies I've ever seen. His lateral movement was excellent and he may have had the fastest legs of any goalie I've EVER seen. But have a 2 1/2 month slump in Montreal and you're a worthless bum that should be traded for a bag of pucks?!?! Ya, that kind of attitude pisses me off a bit

The Kahuna · Guru

AB Habman wrote:

Good post Nil! I don't think this guy is a shot in the dark. He's so fundamentally solid, that I don't think any of it is fluke! Plus being big, helps cover alot of net. I like his butterfly because he moves across with one leg across the other rather than in a V and knees together which of course exposes the five hole when moving laterally. Notice how he rarely gets beat low when he's down. Really good technique. He doesn't have to shoot up and reposition before the rebound shots. He can remain calm and be more effective than I guy like Theo who has to move so much more to cover more net.

Ab, I'm with you. I don't think Huet is a fluke either (hopefully the rest of this season and next proves that). Dare I say he reminds me a bit of a guy who wore a sweater with a number 6 digits lower than his. Both Huet and Patrick are very comfortable playing on their knees and are very confident they can take the top of the net away with their hands.

-- Edited by The Kahuna at 17:06, 2006-03-29

AB Habman · Guru

The Kahuna wrote:

AB Habman wrote: Good post Nil! I don't think this guy is a shot in the dark. He's so fundamentally solid, that I don't think any of it is fluke! Plus being big, helps cover alot of net. I like his butterfly because he moves across with one leg across the other rather than in a V and knees together which of course exposes the five hole when moving laterally. Notice how he rarely gets beat low when he's down. Really good technique. He doesn't have to shoot up and reposition before the rebound shots. He can remain calm and be more effective than I guy like Theo who has to move so much more to cover more net. Ab, I'm with you. I don't think Huet is a fluke either (hopefully the rest of this season and next proves that). Dare I say he reminds me a bit of a guy who wore a sweater with a number 6 digits lower than his. Both Huet and Patrick are very comfortable playing on their knees and are very confident they can take the top of the net away with their hands. -- Edited by The Kahuna at 17:06, 2006-03-29

I agree with you also.

Desi · Senior Member

Really good points, Kahuna. At the beginning of the year, Theo looked pretty solid. Easy to forget that after some of the poor games he had later, but you can't take it away from him: he started the season well.

I'm on of those who believes that he will return to form, and will play a lot better next year than he did this year. That having been said, it's great to see Huet playing so superbly. Montreal has a long history of dressing standout goalies, and M. Huet is in good company there.

Les Canadiens sont la

The Kahuna · Guru

Right on again Desi. I was a big Theo fan, and now I'm a big Huet fan, I love the way this guy plays.

24 Rings · Guru

I guess the Theo issue is neither here nor there, cause he's history. Huet has easily played as well as Theo ever did. It's nice to have some consistency in goal again and a guy you can depend on night in and night out. I just hope that he decides to stick around next season and it will be interesting to see what the Habs offer him. Not that he doesn't deserve a juicy raise, but they shouldn't bring in a Brink's truck either. They seem to overpay for players as of late and it will interesting to what he will recieve if he stays. Anyone have any guesses? 3 years - 6.5 mill?

-- Edited by 24 Rings at 18:02, 2006-03-29

The Kahuna · Guru

Agreed 24 rings, Theo's gone...now it's hip, hip, Huet. I'd be worried if they dumped a ton of cash on him (didn't work out so well last time

), but if he carries the team in to the playoffs, he deserves a nice raise for sure. Maybe that's what Theo's salary dump and no replacement was about?

-- Edited by The Kahuna at 18:08, 2006-03-29

Nil d · Guru

The Kahuna wrote:

I would say Theo's season fell apart in early to mid November, but before that he had 2 really good months. Here's a sample of Theo's first 15 games, If I were to look back on this very forum, I'd bet money everyone was praising him. 3-2 TOR 20 saves 5-2 BOS 27 saves 2-1 BOS 29 saves 4-3 NYR 16 saves 2-0 ATL 19 saves 4-3 BOS 20 saves 4-1 NYR 23 saves 5-4 FLA 26 saves 3-2 TPA 32 saves Record as of November 8th 10-3-2 Now Theo is gone, we should all move on. But I'm just not going to sit idly by and listen to everyone tell me what a bum Theo is. Next season (or maybe this one) Theo will either confirm what his detractors or supporters are saying. I still say he was great for the Habs and one of the best positional goalies I've ever seen. His lateral movement was excellent and he may have had the fastest legs of any goalie I've EVER seen. But have a 2 1/2 month slump in Montreal and you're a worthless bum that should be traded for a bag of pucks?!?! Ya, that kind of attitude pisses me off a bit

That Atlanta game had Yann Danis in nets, I believe. I know Jose does not have a shutout this year (and Danis does).

The Kahuna · Guru

Nil d wrote:

That Atlanta game had Yann Danis in nets, I believe. I know Jose does not have a shutout this year (and Danis does).

You might be right, I just checked back on the TSN site, and while they do show Theo in the net that game...they show Belfour in the Atlanta net

So me thinks there info ain't that accurate. Looking at his stats for the season shows that he probably didn't play as well as I remember as his save percentage has been below .900 all season except for the first 2 games.

-- Edited by The Kahuna at 19:43, 2006-03-29

Figaro · Guru

The Kahuna wrote:

You might be right on the TSN site they show Theo in that game...they show Belfour in the Atlanta net

That explains how Belfour wore out his back. It's really hard being in 2 places at once.

The Kahuna · Guru

Figaro wrote:

The Kahuna wrote: You might be right on the TSN site they show Theo in that game...they show Belfour in the Atlanta net That explains how Belfour wore out his back. It's really hard being in 2 places at once.