Anaheim, Calif. – Anaheim Ducks goaltending consultant Francois Allaire, who as the renowned guru of the butterfly style has worked with a long line of NHL stars, including Patrick Roy, Tuesday stood up for another of his former pupils.
In the Ducks’ dressing room after practice on the off day between Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals, Allaire said it would be premature to write off Avalanche goaltender Jose Theodore.
“That’s a tough question to answer because I’m not over there and I don’t train Jose anymore,” Allaire said. “But of course, sometimes a guy loses his job because the other guy’s playing good. I think Peter Budaj played outstanding for them, and because they were in the playoff race, they had to give the assignment to one guy, and the (Colorado) coaching staff went with Budaj.
“Next year, it can be a completely different situation.”
Does that mean Theodore, scheduled to make $6 million in the final season of his contract, can turn it around if the Avalanche doesn’t buy him out and retains him?
“I think so,” Allaire said. “You can’t be at the level he was at and then not be capable of doing the same thing. It’s a matter of confidence and a good fit.
“Sometimes, injuries can change a lot of things. Bad starts can change a lot of things, whether for you or the other guys. One thing in the pros, you never know what’s going to happen in the next season. This season was not perfect; maybe next season will be better.
“I know one thing, that when I coached Jose at the beginning, when I still was at Montreal, he was a really good athlete, a kid with a lot of determination, a kid who wants to be in the net all the time. He has that foundation and some experience, and he should be able to reshape everything and do it again.”
