The defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks organization have assigned goaltender Cristobal Huet to HC Fribourg-Gotteron SA of the Swiss National League A.
The move was down to salary cap implications as Huet has failed to impress since his July 2008 signing in Chicago of four years worth $22.45 million. His $5.625 million per-year contract has two years remaining, but is simply too much to swallow for the Blackhawks.Huet is only one of ten roster players from last year to be making an exit heading into next season following their Stanley Cup championship, all casualties of the salary cap. The underperforming Frenchman follows Antti Niemi out the door in terms of goaltenders for a completely new-look Blackhawks goalie tandem for next season.
Last year Huet went 26-14-4 with a 2.50 GAA and .895 save percentage. He lost his job to the rookie, Niemi, early and was never able to get back in between the pipes consistently. In his 7-year NHL career thus far, Huet is 129-90-1 with a 2.46 GAA and .913 save percentage with 24 shutouts in 272 games. He has split his career with Los Angelis, Montreal, Washington, and Chicago and at times, he looked to be one of the best goaltenders the league had going.
The future is bleak for Huet at the age of 35. His two-year contract will see him through the age of 37 coming off a downward spiral with the Hawks. You can never really blame a player for signing a mega contract (i.e. recently waived Wade Redden) in which they get paid too much, but the signature on the dotted line may have eliminated his chances of staying in the NHL. Had he been making less, there’s no doubt someone would have picked him up on a chance when the Blackhawks waived him just a few days ago.
Further cuts from the Chicago Blackhawks come in the form of Evan Brophey and Jeff Taffe, who have been assigned to Rockford, Chicago’s AHL affiliate.
- Kendall Grubbs
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