I don’t want to turn this into something that it isn’t, but it’s obvious that Adrian Dater and I have some differing opinions on the Avs goaltending situation.
In his latest blog entry, Adrian expands on his previous one including the following paragraph:
I just believe what I believe: that Theodore was worth keeping. And it was humorous reading from at least one Peter Budaj apologist that Theodore’s salary “demands” were “exhorbitant” this summer. Really? The fact that he would have signed for a 25-percent pay cut from what he made the year before - and just wanted the Avs to match the other offer that was already on the table from another team? That’s exhorbitant? A guy who was one of the top three goalies in the league in the second half, and stole a playoff round, with a Hart Trophy already in his closet?
In case you aren’t aware, I’m the Peter Budaj apologist he’s calling out. I don’t deny that I like Budaj, and think he can (and will) be a good goalie. I’m not blind, though. He hasn’t been playing great. And you know what? Budaj may turn out to be the next David Aebischer (as in, a dud). It’s not like I haven’t been wrong before.
None of that will change my opinion of Jose Theodore, and the decision to not re-sign him last summer. I’m glad he’s gone. Yes, he had a great season (I only gave one player a higher grade this summer). Well, a great half of a season, to be more concise. And that great half of a season followed roughly two terrible seasons. We’re his demands “exorbitant”? No, even I agreed that he’d command something in the $4 to $5 million range. But I am not convinced that he’s going to be able to stick with that 2008 form. By the end of last season, he was starting to show some signs of regression and I don’t need to remind anyone here that he’s not exactly off to a great start this year. I felt (and still feel) that there were too many question marks to justify investing that much money in Jose. And, it seems, Francois Giguere felt the same way. Budaj may not be the answer. Raycroft probably is not the answer. But I don’t think Theo would have been the answer either.
I don’t give a rat’s ass that Theo was offering a pay cut, just like I don’t really care that we paid Theo something like $240,000 per win while he was here. Nor do I think Theodore owed the Avs for being patient while he struggled to turn his career around. He’s worth what someone is willing to pay him, and what the Avalanche were willing to pay was less than what another team was willing to pay. As a result, Jose Theodore is gone. Good for him…and good for us, I say. And I’m glad he took his Hart trophy with him - it didn’t stop too many pucks while he was here, that’s for damn sure.
Adrian and I will have to agree to disagree. Maybe Theodore will be able to repeat. If he does, I’ll be the one buying the beer if Dater and I ever bump into each other. But, for future reference, I think I prefer “anti-Theodore” over “Budaj apologist.”
And, for the record, I totally agree with the following statement:
I just think that the Avs tried to fix what wasn’t really broken this summer, and it’s costing them already. They tried to fix the areas (goaltending, a veteran winger, the coach) that weren’t broken and didn’t bother to fix the areas that were (penalty-killing, third-line center, faceoff guy, better defense up front).
I wouldn’t have minded seeing a big name goalie brought in, I didn’t like the Tucker signing, and I wasn’t thrilled about the Granato promotion either. And I hated seeing Andrew Brunette leave. I’ll happily join in criticizing the current regime for making some questionable moves. I just don’t feel that letting Jose Theodore go is one of them.
How cute. Someone is having a lovers’ tiff.
I can think of quite a few questionable moves by FG.
And letting Theo go isn’t on the top of my list either. Hiring Granato without even interviewing anyone else? That is up there. Not trading for Bryzgalov and anticipating our current situation? That is way up there too. And wouldn’t Yelle help our PK right now?
No tiff, just a good honest debate. This is my favorite Avs blogger, and the amazing thing about that statement is that it has nothing to do with the fact that he lives in the small New Hampshire city I spent much of my youth.
What, nobody mentions the power play? Yeah it went 2 for 4 or something (at least two goals)last night but the other opportunities looked like crap.
I think DD is correct in agreeing with Dater on the way the real problems weren’t addressed in the offseason, namely special teams and Arny. I also think that the “Bring back Theo?” debate can’t exist in a vacuum. Everybody knows that in a cap situation, it isn’t what you spend this year, but what you spend down the line, and Stastny is gonna need to get paid. I also think that changing the offensive style of the team has left Budaj exposed a little more than some of us expected, but if you wanna know how Theo would have operated under those circumstances, you have only to look at his current team. The Caps run an offense-first, suspect defense style and Theo has struggled. Why would the plot be any different if he was wearing burgandy instead of red?
On the coaches show this morning Granato basically said the following:
They still have confidence in Budaj, he will be fine. He was fine just a week ago. He’s got some things to tighten up but they have no doubt that he will return to his previous form. He said there’s a bit of a microscope on him now because it’s the first three games of the season. Raycroft starts as scheduled but Budaj is still the guy.
Now, I don’t know if that story changes if Raycroft stands on his head tonight but that’s generally what Granato said this morning on the subject.
Budaj has never been this bad, ever. So as a Budaj supporter it’s pretty tough to read all the “I told you so” commentary that’s out there right now. Budaj is getting killed everywhere. All he needs to do is get back to where he was before. If he can’t do it then the Avs are in a really bad position.
With the regression of Weiman and Sauer in the goalie prospect pipeline and Delmas being a few years out, the Avs should consider going after Al Montoya in Phoenix. Phoenix got rich quick when they picked up Bryzgalov and now Montoya is back in their AHL pipeline. That doesn’t help this year unless Montoya can make a huge rookie push but it puts the Avs in much better shape in the near future.
This really hurts AD. I get the impression you don’t like me… I think it’s the swearing.
And I agree with Mike Johnson agreeing with DD Johnson who agrees with Adrian Johnson. (You know how hard it is to find this quote online. fricking impossible)
I concur.
I concur that DD is a great blogger. And also think it is very cool that AD joins our blogosphere. It’s nice to have a beat writer who also has opinions and shares them. AD could never work for Altitude.
BiB,
During the last broadcast against Calgary Peter McNabb actually said the following, “Budaj has done a great job so far this year. He just needs to make that ONE save.” I found that to be extremely funny, yet depressing at the same time.
Hilarious, yet infuriating.
On one hand, I love McNab. Not a finer homer in the league. On the other hand, when things aren’t going well and he’s blowing sunshine up everyone’s arse, I just can’t handle it.
For the most part it seems most of us are on the same page. Those key areas that were the worst last season remain unchanged,including the power play. Joe Sakic on the point still isn’t working.
It’s good to see the coaching staff sticking to one guy. They are giving Raycroft some games, but they state that Budaj is #1. I will give Granato points for that. Now if Budaj doesn’t improve and Raycroft is playing lights out after 10-15 games, maybe they need to look at a change. But they aren’t being quick on the trigger, and this early, I think it’s a good thing.