- Cristobal Huet
-
Cristobal Huet 
Huet with the Blackhawks in 2009Born September 3, 1975
Saint-Martin-d'Hères, FRAHeight 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Weight 208 lb (94 kg; 14 st 12 lb) Position Goaltender Catches Left NLA team
Former teamsFribourg-Gottéron
NHL
Los Angeles Kings
Montreal Canadiens
Washington Capitals
Chicago Blackhawks
Ligue Magnus
Brûleurs de Loups
NLA
HC LuganoNational team 
FranceNHL Draft 214th overall, 2001
Los Angeles KingsPlaying career 1994–present Cristobal Huet (French pronunciation: [kʁistɔbal ɥɛ]; born September 3, 1975 in Saint-Martin-d'Hères, Isère, France) is a French professional ice hockey goaltender playing for Fribourg-Gottéron of the Swiss National League A, on loan from the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League. He developed his goaltending skills in Grenoble with Les Brûleurs de Loups. He has also played with the Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals. He is the first netminder and second player overall (after Philippe Bozon) from France to play in the NHL. Huet won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks during the 2009-10 NHL season. He was the first Frenchman to win the Stanley Cup as a player.
Contents
Playing career
Los Angeles Kings
Huet was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings as their seventh-round pick, 214th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Kings in the 2002–2003 and 2003–2004 seasons. He was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in a three-team deal that sent Mathieu Garon to Los Angeles and Radek Bonk from the Ottawa Senators to Montreal. During the lockout Huet played for the Mannheim Eagles in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. He led the team to the finals, where the Eagles lost in three straight games to Eisbären Berlin.
Montreal Canadiens
During the 2005–06 season, Huet eventually won the starting job in goal for the Canadiens at the expense of José Théodore who was subsequently traded to Colorado in exchange for goaltender David Aebischer. He also won the Molson Cup in February 2006. The Molson Cup is awarded monthly to the best Montreal Canadiens' player. He won the Best Defensive Player award from the NHL during the first week of March, ousting goaltenders such as the Ottawa Senators' Ray Emery and the New Jersey Devils' Martin Brodeur, with a 3–0–0 record and a 1.67 GAA. For the second time of the year, he was named NHL Best Defensive Player on April 3 with a 3–0–0 record, a 0.65 GAA and 0.979 SV%, ousting goaltenders Martin Brodeur, Miikka Kiprusoff and Manny Legace.
On April 23, in his first Stanley Cup playoffs start, Huet starred in a 6–1 win against the 2nd seed in Eastern Conference—the Carolina Hurricanes. Huet stopped 42 of 43 shots in the contest to put the Canadiens up 1–0 in the seven game series. Two days later, Huet recorded his first overtime playoff win, when the Canadiens beat the Hurricanes 6–5 in two overtimes to take the lead 2–0 in the series. But in the next four games, Huet and the Canadiens lost by scores of 2–1, 3–2, 2–1 and 2–1 and the series in goaltender duels with rookie Cam Ward, who had taken Martin Gerber's starting spot in the series, and who would later go on to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.
The Canadiens re-signed Huet in the 2006 offseason for two years at $5.75 million total, earning $3.00 million the first season and $2.75 million in the second year.
On January 13, 2007, Huet was announced as one of the three goalies of the Eastern Conference All-Star Team in the 55th NHL All-Star Game in Dallas. A month later, however, he suffered a left hamstring injury that caused him to miss most of the final two months of the season. In his absence, the Canadiens struggled, and the team missed the postseason.
Washington Capitals
Huet with the Washington Capitals
On February 26, 2008 Montreal Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey traded the French netminder to the Washington Capitals for a 2009 second-round draft pick.[1] Huet had become expendable to Montreal once goaltender Carey Price had arrived. He took over the starting position from Olaf Kölzig, and his exceptional play helped lead Washington to securing a playoff berth, where they lost their opening round series against the Philadelphia Flyers in seven games.
Chicago Blackhawks
On July 1, 2008, the first day of unrestricted free-agency, he agreed to terms on a new 4-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks worth a total of $22.4 million or $5.625 million per season.
Following the signing, Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon announced the team would enter the season with a tandem of Huet and Nikolai Khabibulin. Unable to win over Khabibulin to start the season, Huet found himself on the bench more often than not. Gradually, he earned back his playing time and both alternated every game for almost 3 months until Khabibulin went down with a groin injury in early February. The tandem, however, earned much praise around the NHL. A second Khabibulin injury in early February thrust Huet in the spotlight once again, and he was named the NHL's 3rd star of the week for Feb 15-21, posting a 3-0-0 record and allowing just five goals on 72 shots. In the end, however, Khabibulin was named the playoff starter for the Blackhawks, and they defeated the Calgary Flames in the first round as well as the Vancouver Canucks in the second round.
Huet made his next appearance for the Blackhawks during game three of the 2009 Western Conference Finals, where he was called to replace an injured Khabibulin.[2] He made six saves, and allowed the Blackhawks to collect on overtime win. With Khabibulin still recovering from a lower body injury, Joel Quenneville named Huet the team's starting goalie for the fourth game against Detroit.[3] Huet allowed five goals on 21 shots, and was temporarily replaced by Corey Crawford.[4] During the final game of the series, Huet stopped 44 shots en route to a 2-1 overtime loss.[5]
Huet entered the 2009-2010 season as the Blackhawks undisputed number one goaltender, a first in his career. Despite a slow start, he picked up his play while backup goalie Antti Niemi excelled behind him as well. Eventually, after months of streaky play, Huet was again replaced by Niemi, who took the starting position going into the playoffs. Huet played twenty minutes in all of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with Niemi playing the rest, and the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup with a playoff record of 16-6.
On September 27, 2010, Huet was loaned to HC Fribourg-Gotteron SA of the Swiss National League A to relieve the Blackhawks' salary cap issues.[6]
Career statistics
Regular season
Season Team League GP W L T OTL Min GA SO GAA SV% 1995–96 Brûleurs de Loups de Grenoble Ligue Magnus 25 – – – – – – – – – 1996–97 Brûleurs de Loups de Grenoble Ligue Magnus 28 – – – – – – – – – 1997–98 Brûleurs de Loups de Grenoble Ligue Magnus 29 – – – – – – – – – 1998–99 HC Lugano NLA 21 – – – – 1275 58 1 2.73 – 1999–00 HC Lugano NLA 31 – – – – 1886 50 8 1.59 – 2000–01 HC Lugano NLA 39 – – – – 2365 77 6 1.95 – 2001–02 HC Lugano NLA 36 – – – – 2313 107 4 2.78 – 2002–03 Manchester Monarchs AHL 30 16 8 5 – 1784 68 1 2.29 .922 2002–03 Los Angeles Kings NHL 12 4 4 1 – 541 21 1 2.33 .913 2003–04 Los Angeles Kings NHL 41 10 16 10 – 2199 89 3 2.43 .907 2004–05 Adler Mannheim DEL 36 – – – – 2001 93 1 2.79 – 2005–06 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 4 0 4 – – 237 15 0 3.79 .862 2005–06 Montreal Canadiens NHL 36 18 11 – 4 2102 77 7 2.20 .929 2006–07 Montreal Canadiens NHL 42 19 16 – 3 2286 107 2 2.81 .916 2007–08 Montreal Canadiens NHL 39 21 12 – 6 2278 97 2 2.55 .916 2007–08 Washington Capitals NHL 13 11 2 – 0 771 21 2 1.63 .936 2008–09 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 41 20 15 – 4 2351 99 3 2.53 .909 2009–10 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 48 26 14 – 4 2731 114 4 2.50 .895 2010–11 HC Fribourg-Gottéron NLA 41 – – – – 2454 116 6 2.83 .919 NHL totals 272 129 90 11 21 15261 625 24 2.46 .913 Playoff career
Season Team League GP W L MIN GA SA SO GAA SV% 1994–95 Brûleurs de Loups de Grenoble Ligue Magnus – – – – – – – – – 1995–96 Brûleurs de Loups de Grenoble Ligue Magnus 11 – – – – – – – – 1996–97 Brûleurs de Loups de Grenoble Ligue Magnus – – – – – – – – – 1997–98 Brûleurs de Loups de Grenoble Ligue Magnus 12 – – – – – – – – 1998–99 HC Lugano NLA 10 – – 628 18 – 1 1.72 – 1999–00 HC Lugano NLA 13 – – 783 29 – 0 2.22 – 2000-01 HC Lugano NLA 18 – – 1141 39 – 2 2.05 – 2001-02 HC Lugano NLA 1 – – 60 3 – 0 3.00 – 2002–03 Manchester Monarchs AHL 1 0 1 30 4 18 0 8.08 .778 2004–05 Adler Mannheim DEL 14 – – 850 40 2 – 2.82 – 2005–06 Montreal Canadiens NHL 6 2 4 385 15 212 0 2.33 .929 2007–08 Washington Capitals NHL 7 3 4 451 22 242 0 2.90 .909 2008–09 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 3 1 2 130 7 78 0 3.23 .910 2009–10 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 1 0 0 20 0 3 0 0.00 1.000 2010–11 Fribourg-Gottéron NLA 4 0 4 212 18 89 0 5.09 .832 NHL totals 17 6 10 987 44 535 0 2.73 .918 International play
Played for France in:
- 1998 Winter Olympics
- 1999 IIHF World Championship
- 2000 IIHF World Championship
- 2002 Winter Olympics
- 2004 IIHF World Championship
- 2008 IIHF World Championship
International statistics
Year Team Comp GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% 1998 France Oly 2 1 1 0 120 5 0 2.50 .925 1999 France IIHF 1 - - - 60 6 0 6.00 .714 2000 France IIHF 4 - - - 239 11 0 2.76 .892 2002 France Oly 3 0 2 1 179 10 0 3.36 .884 2004 France IIHF 4 0 3 1 198 17 0 5.25 .851 2008 France IIHF 5 2 3 0 250 15 0 3.60 .911 Honours
- French Elite League Champion with the Brûleurs de loups of Grenoble, 1997/98
- Albert Hassler Trophy (Most Valuable Domestic Player in the French Elite League), 1997/98
- Jean Ferrand Trophy (Most Valuable Goaltender in the French Elite League), 1996/97 and 1997/98
- Swiss National A League Champion with HC Lugano, 1998/99
- European Hockey League Final Four with HC Lugano, 1999/00
- Jacques Plante Trophy (Best GAA in the Swiss National A League), 1999/00 and 2000/01
- Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award (Best Save% in the NHL - National Hockey League), 2005/06
- Nominee for Bill Masterton Trophy (Awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.), 2005/2006
- NHL Defensive Player of the Week 3–5–06
- NHL All Star Team roster - 2007
- Nominee for NHL All Star team - 2008
- NHL 3rd star for January 2008
- NHL 3rd star of the week (Feb 15-21 2009)
- NHL 1st star of the week (Dec 14-21 2009)
- NHL 2010 Stanley Cup Champion (Season 2009-2010)
References
- ^ "Cristobal Huet stops 'em all in debut game for Capitals". USA Today. 2008-03-01. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2008-02-29-capitals-devils_N.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
- ^ Ziehm, Len (2009-05-20). "Wings win 3-2 in OT, put Hawks in 2-hole". Chicago Sun-Times. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/1582551,CST-SPT-hawk20.article. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "Khabibulin out, Havlat in for Game 4". Miami Herald. 2009-05-24. http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/hockey/hockey-wires/story/1063842.html. Retrieved 2009-05-25.[dead link]
- ^ Gano, Rick (2009-05-24). "Hossa, Zetterberg push Wings to verge of finals". Yahoo! Sports. http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/recap?gid=2009052404. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ McKeon, Ross (2009-05-28). "Wednesday's Three Stars: Hip, hip, Huet. Nice try, anyway". Yahoo! Sports. http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Wednesday-s-Three-Stars-Hip-hip-Huet-Nice-tr;_ylt=Ape4QXSYxBENDHlRO.B2grZ7vLYF?urn=nhl,166411. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
- ^ "Blackhawks send G Cristobal Huet to Swiss team". http://versus.stats.com/nhl/story.asp?i=20100927193230221990408&ref=hea&tm=&src=. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
External links
- Cristobal Huet's NHL player profile
- Cristobal Huet's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
- Cristobal Huet biography, including game-by-game results, at The Goaltender Home Page
- Cristobal Huet at TSN.ca
- Cristobal Huet at Yahoo! Sports
- Cristobal Huet receive Roger Crozier award
Preceded by
Dwayne RolosonWinner of the Crozier Award
2006Succeeded by
Niklas BäckströmCategories:- 1975 births
- Living people
- Brûleurs de loups players
- Adler Mannheim players
- Chicago Blackhawks players
- French ice hockey players
- Hamilton Bulldogs players
- Ice hockey goaltenders
- Ice hockey players at the 1998 Winter Olympics
- Ice hockey players at the 2002 Winter Olympics
- Los Angeles Kings draft picks
- Los Angeles Kings players
- Montreal Canadiens players
- National Hockey League All-Stars
- Nationalliga A players
- Olympic ice hockey players of France
- People from Saint-Martin-d'Hères
- Stanley Cup champions
- Washington Capitals players
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