While Jean-Sebastien Giguere says he can still be a reliable, everyday goalie in the NHL, the new Avalanche netminder has no problem serving as mentor to newly acquired youngster Semyon Varlamov.
“I’m going to try to push him as much as I can. Hopefully, I’ll make him a better goalie and hopefully he can push me too,” said Giguere, 34, who signed a two-year, $2.5 million free-agent contract with Colorado on Friday. “I hope we can have a good working relationship and help the team. At the end of the day, it’s all about the team.”
The player known as “Giggy” once was a major NHL star, leading Anaheim to the Stanley Cup in 2007 and winning the Conn Smythe Trophy despite the Mighty Ducks losing the Cup in 2003. He has been troubled by injuries in recent years, but he said recent sports hernia surgery has him feeling like a new man.
“It’s been a big turnaround for me this summer,” Giguere said. “They removed all the scar tissue from the groins that have built up through the years. It feels like it’s free now from anything bothering it.”
Fleischmann departs.
The Avs lost left winger Tomas Fleischmann on Friday, as the veteran signed a four- year, $18 million deal with Florida. Avs general manager Greg Sherman and executive adviser Joe Sakic said Fleischmann’s career history with pulmonary embolism was a factor in the decision not to pursue him.
“Given the risks associated with his health, we made a decision to move on,” Sherman said.
Footnotes.
The Avs, an NHL source said, placed an early call to veteran free-agent goalie Tomas Vokoun but never made him a formal offer, possibly because of his age (35) and price tag. Vokoun, considered the top free-agent goalie available, was still unsigned as of Friday night. . . . Varlamov was unavailable for comment Friday. . . . Former Avs goalie Peter Budaj signed a two-year contract with Montreal.
