Minnesota Wild sign Jose Theodore
The Minnesota Wild have announced that they have signed goaltender Jose Theodore to a one-year contract worth roughly $1 million. Theodore became a free agent at the end of the season after the Washington
Capitals decided not to re-sign the veteran tender.
It became clear that the Wild were in search for a goaltender after it was announced that their back-up netminder, Josh Harding, suffered a serious knee injury last week and could miss the entire regular
season. The Theodore signing will provide the club with a solid back-up, who is capable of playing 20 games this season.
Theodore was drafted 44th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the 1994 National Hockey League entry draft. Theodore would spend five full seasons with the Canadiens, positing
his best numbers in 2003-04 when he registered 33 wins and a 2.27 goals-against-average.
The following season he was traded to the Avalanche where he spent the next two years. It was clear during his time in Colorado that he was no longer the dominant force between the pipes like he was with
Montreal. However, the veteran was given another chance to start when he joined the Capitals for the 2008-09 season and although his numbers were not particularly strong he was able to accumulate wins with the highly skilled club. The Wild will be the 34-year-old's
fourth NHL team in his 12-year career.
The one-year contract is a chance for Theodore to show that he still has the talent and skill to be an everyday contributor in the League. It is unlikely that the veteran tender will fill the role of starter
again in his career. Nevertheless, if he is able to put together a strong season backing up Minnesota starter Niklas Backstrom he could find himself with another contract at the end of the 2010-11 campaign.
Last season in 47 starts with the Capitals Theodore managed 30 wins, a save-percentage of .911 and a goals-against-average of 2.81.
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