Jose Theodore not only finally considers himself a real member of the Avalanche, but also a real Coloradan.
The veteran goalie has settled into a new suburban home, along with girlfriend Stephanie Cloutier and baby daughter Romy. He plans to host other relatives from the Montreal area soon. So much for gossipy reports that Theodore’s personal life has been in chaos since he was photographed with Paris Hilton at a nightclub this summer.
Theodore kept his words mostly to hockey Thursday after undergoing physicals and other fitness testing at the Pepsi Center with the rest of his Avalanche teammates. The resurrection of his career and winning as many games for the Avs as he can this season are Theodore’s focus entering today’s start of training camp.
“I’ve been really looking forward to (camp),” said Theodore, who turned 30 on Wednesday. “That’s why I came here in mid-August, just to be back with the boys and be back on the ice. Now it’s a new season, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Theodore knows he will face questions about his personal life, which has been in the news for a variety of reasons over the years. But he knows he faces more important questions about his career, which has been on the slide since he won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player in 2002.
Whether Theodore can return to the level he ascended to with the Montreal Canadiens in 2002, and overcome a disastrous 2005-06 season that saw him miss three months with a broken heel, are the critical questions facing him and the Avs this season – and Theodore knows it.
“Every year, you have something to prove,” he said. “Every year, I’m going to tell you (that). Mentally and physically, I feel real good right now. Obviously, three-quarters of the season (in 2005-06) is something I want to forget about, and move on.”
Good luck finding a hockey player to say anything critical of another teammate. So it was no surprise that Theodore’s mates had nothing but good things to say about him Thursday. But there was another level of emphasis to their words, which made it clear they have been impressed with how Theodore looks entering camp.
“He looks great out there on the ice,” Avalanche captain Joe Sakic said. “He’s worked hard this offseason. Just by watching him, he’s got more confidence and he’ll be ready to go right from the start.”
Theodore salvaged some of his season with a reasonably good showing in the playoffs with the Avalanche after his acquisition from Montreal. Despite his long injury layoff, he bested Dallas goalie Marty Turco in the first round of the playoffs and finished the postseason with a respectable 3.04 goals-against average and .900 save percentage.
“When I got here, it was kind of a ray of light. A new team, new organization,” Theodore said. “I was able to come back, play in the playoffs and we were able to beat Dallas. Now I’m looking forward to the next season.”
Avs coach Joel Quenneville said Theodore will give his team the kind of stability in net it lacked most of last season. At one point, the Avs had three goalies taking turns as the No. 1 man.
“It’s a fresh start. He’s almost like one of our new players coming in this year,” Quenneville said. “He looks like a different person. His attitude seems refreshing and energized. We’re expecting big things from him.”
Staff writer Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com.
