Theodore Channels Roy, Unfortunately
by Joe Dunman on Jan 14, 2008 9:29 AM MST
in NHL News
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PrintIn last night's game against Florida, Jose Theodore made two separate stick-handling mistakes that nearly cost the Avalanche the game in regulation. His flubs reminded me of the good ol' days when Patrick Roy was still in Burgundy and Blue, and not in a good way.
Turns out, I'm not alone:
"I've got to learn from that. I thought I could play the puck like I did. Hedgie was kidding me — he was saying I was like Patrick Roy back in the days," Theodore said.
Oh man. I remember watching Avs games in the late '90s and early in this decade, watching Roy go skating behind the net, often for no reason, and get this close to giving up the puck to the opposing team. I can remember screaming my head off at least three or four times a game, "Get back in goal, Roy!!!" I swear no memory of Patrick Roy is burned as deeply into my brain as his horrendous stick-handling behind the net. He may have been magic between the pipes but outside of the crease he was a nightmare.
Milan Hejduk and I remember those days. Anybody else? Anybody remember specific times when Roy's out-of-the-crease antics made you want to throw your TV out the window?
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Re: Theodore Channels Roy, Unfortunately
Shudders...
as this is probably the only real comparison of Theo to Roy that fits. His weaknesses are starting to come out again in these last two games. He gives up to softies in Carolina and almost gives up the game three times in the final two minutes coming out of his net and miss playing the puck. I'm waiting for that damned "statue of Liberty" glove flash to fail as well (ala Roy in game 7 of conference finals versus Detroit...still hurts thinking about it).
not me.
from Wednesday's notes...
"9:24 Statue of Liberty by Theo after a glove save. I wish he wouldn’t do that. Ever since the Roy flub against Detroit in the playoffs, I’ve hated that move."
my wife was a big Roy fan, and him leaving the net drove her insane. she was watching last night and asked if Theo thought he was Roy or something. I think my answer was closer to the "or something" choice.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 14, 2008 11:37 AM MST up reply actions
Re: not me
Seriously, what is the purpose of holding a gloved puck over one's head? To show off?
I've never seen Budaj hold the puck over his head, even when making a high glove save. He just calmly lowers his arm and hands the puck to the ref like he's supposed to.
That showboat crap only works never.
I disagree
I loved the Statue of Liberty. Yes it backfired the one time with Roy, and yes someone as shaky as Theo has absolutely no business doing it.
But in reality it's a show of dominance over your opponent, I don't think of it as showboating, as much as a psychological tactic. When Roy did it it wasn't showboating it was him basically saying "Is that all you got?". As a shooter to have my best shot snagged and held over my head like that could really affect my confidence
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 14, 2008 12:52 PM MST up reply actions
Re: I disagree
Unless,
- It just makes you mad, at which point you play harder and perhaps better.
- It falls out of the goalie's glove and into the goal, and then it makes you laugh.
Personally, and of course this is just an opinion, a goalie who shows little to know emotion while stopping everything I send his way would be far more unnerving than some douche bag holding his arm up in the air like a five year-old who just caught his first baseball lobbed underhand from his dad two feet away.
But that's just me.
Sign
It's also a sign the goalie has confidence. And most players who get mad play worse, not better
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 14, 2008 1:41 PM MST up reply actions
yeah i agree
statue of liberty kicks ass.
by Mike the Avs Fan on Jan 14, 2008 10:04 PM MST up reply actions
Quick correction
I think it was game 6, and the Avs were then blown out in Game 7. Maybe I'm remembering it wrong though
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 14, 2008 10:21 AM MST up reply actions
Re: Quick correction
Jibs, you're right. The flub was in Game 6, the 7-0 fiasco was in Game 7. What a lousy year.
good old days
When a lousy year meant losing in 7 games in the WCF. I long for those "lousy years." ;) I think the Avs have only won two playoff series, both against Dallas with Turco puking all over himself, since that year. Bummer. Hartley was a good coach. Granato was a nightmare. Q falls somewhere in between, currently leaning more towards Granato.
Speaking of the good old days, I have been watching these "Classic Series" recaps on the NHL Network and DVRing those involving the Avs. This weekend I watched the recap of the 1999 Av-RW series. I couldn't believe the forward talent on that Av team. Sakic, Forsberg, Fleury, Lemieux, Kamensky, Deadmarsh and a few pretty top notch rookies, Hejduk and Drury. Holy cow!
by Bob in Boulder on Jan 14, 2008 10:43 AM MST up reply actions
Re: good old days
For all the good things a salary cap can do, one of the very worst things is ending dynasties of fully-stocked powerhouse teams.
If only Kroenke could be free to spend as much as he used to!
Theo
I've got no problem with Q leaving Theo in goal. You should have a starting goalie and stick with it. However, if the Avs had lost against Carolina or last night then Q would have given Theo the hook. The fact the Avs piled on five goals and win a shootout is the deciding factor in his starting goaltender from game to game? I think Budaj is a way more consistent goalie than Theo but now that Q has made his bed, I hope he sticks with it. I think the Avs will get burned with Theo in net personally but really, the coaching decisions behind goaltending is what hurts the team more than the goaltenders themselves.
you guys kiddin me???
I looooooooved when Roy came out to play the puck! I looked forward to that every game! It made the game so much more exciting, my heart would stop every time I saw him leave the crease....oh boy, the good ol days......lol
by Mike the Avs Fan on Jan 14, 2008 12:00 PM MST reply actions
Re: you guys kiddin me???
In that case Roy owes me about five or six years of my life that I no doubt lost when my heart stopped each time he stepped out of the crease.
He can afford it, I'm sure.
I don't think
anybody has mentioned the Roy puck-handling blunder of all blunders: Game 4 of the Cup Finals against the New Jersey Devils in 2001. Roy fumbles the puck, which gets hammered into an empty net for the game-tying goal. Blew a chance to go up 3-1 in the series...
http://www.hockeynut.com/0001/playof...
Re: I don't think
Man, I must have blocked that one out of my memory. I remember it now, though. Ouch.
Not the only goalie mis-handling the puck
Remember the game a couple of weeks ago against the Red Wings when The Dominator gave up the puck behind the goal? Unfortunately only one Avalanche player was down there, so the steal and pass in front of the goal was wasted.
Theo being showcased for a trade
For what it's worth, Sandy Clough on 950 this morning says he thinks that while Theo has been playing decent hockey of late, he's getting the consecutive starts more to showcase him for a trade rather than playing him over Budaj. Now, he made it sound like it was his own personal feeling rather than any kind of inside information. That may be true but I will say that Clough isn't a regular rumor monger and he does commentary for Altitude TV during intermissions. He does the coaches show every Tuesday morning with Q and he's close friends with Terry Frei. So, his rumors I tend to take a little more seriously.
Anyway, that's food for thought.
Felt this way
I've kind of felt this way all season. It's really the only explanation that makes any sense for Q's goalie rotation. Especially when Buds played well for 7 games, had a couple mediocre games then got yanked.
If this is the case though, why start Theo in games on back to back days. I would think you still play Buds against Florida to give Theo a chance to be better against TB. Maybe it's because ti was a weekend and they thought more scouts would be watching. I think the Avs are going to try and trade away Theo, if they can, and give him a chance to win a #1 spot somewhere, but I wouldn't bet the farm on anyone biting.
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 15, 2008 8:49 AM MST up reply actions
Yeah
Theo is attractive as a trade commodity for two good reasons. First, he's on an expiring contract So whoever takes him isn't on the hook like we have been. Second, the Avs paid half of his salary already so he's relatively cheap for someone else to pick up and make fit under their cap. If he doesn't work out for that team, he can be let go. He's kind of like Salo in that last year at Edmonton where we lost that great prospect Gilbert. You have to find a team looking for a playoff push that seems to have most of the puzzle except for an experienced playoff goaltender. There also could be something to Theo being showcased on the East coast swing. I think the most you can hope for with Theo is prospects or picks and nothing outstanding. Is that worth screwing with your whole team chemistry? Probably not.
Re: Yeah
Florida is obviously not interested since they just picked up Vokoun---if they could get an offense and a defense they'd really be great.
I think tonight is the most important night as far as the "showcasing" Theodore theory goes. Tampa has had goalie problems all season, and they're cash-strapped because they're carrying three huge salaries on offense. If Theo shuts down the Lightning, you have to assume they might be interested in trading for him---along with one or two other Avs.
It's not a wild stretch of the imagination, now that you mention it.
That glove blunder against the wings,
When he tried to put too much mustard on a save and he dropped and and they scored. i wanted to murder him.
by James @ Mile High Hockey on Jan 15, 2008 5:38 PM MST reply actions
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