HabsCast Hockey Blog

The Flying Frenchman

Literally he is straight from France. Huet is the goalie who leads the league in save percentage in the NHL now and did for half the season last year. Coming into the season many of Huet’s critics said he was a flash in the pan and was just on a hot streak, that and due to the fact he had a below average training camp. Into the first few games of the season he looked a little shaky but now he’s settled down and has clearly won the #1 job after a fair chance was given to David Aebischer to earn it.

Even after all this time Huet still has big critics which is understandable. People are saying he needs to play a full season to be proven to be consistent, Yes that’s true 36 games isn’t enough to prove yourself and I wouldn’t have this much confidence in Huet if I didn’t know this particular fact. When Huet first came to the Habs he was relatively unknown and I’ll admit I made fun of him in my NHL 2006 video game as a backup with a 75 overall and I thought he was crap.

The fact that I didn’t know was that Huet played quite a bit of games with the Los Angeles Kings as a backup. Huet played 53 Games in 2 seasons after being drafted for the LA Kings posting very consistent numbers.

In 02-03, Huet played 12 games posting a 2.33 GAA and a .913 save% with one shutout…not bad for a foreign goalie in his first year in the NHL. In 03-04, Huet played half a season 41 games for the LA Kings and continued to post solid numbers. 2.43 GAA .907 save% and 3 Shutouts.

And we all know how well he has adjusted to the play in the new NHL with his consistent 56 games played for the Bleu Blanc et Rouge. His career numbers are all consistent and that’s one of the reasons why I really believe in Cristobal Huet. In 112 Games played in the NHL he’s got a Career .231 GAA and a .922 save% is that consistent to the mind of most hockey fans? I would think so.

Although I have much faith in Huet, I really want to see him play around 60 Games this season and judge him after. So far, it looks like he can do it. Good Luck to the Cristowall. As much as I hear Leaf Fans saying they would rather have Raycroft because he’s a former Calder winner…I think we all know who is better and who they would rather have.

I bet the LA Kings are kicking themselves in the ass for letting this guy go.

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