The LA Daily News is reporting that J.S. Giguere would rather retire than play as a backup. Giguere has fully recovered from a groin injury but is still expected to play behind Jonas Hiller, who has played well recently and led the Ducks to an improved record.
“I’d rather retire than be a backup goalie,” Giguere said to the L.A. Daily News. “Something needs to happen. You get a guy like (Hiller) that’s going to be a free agent at the end of the year and myself, making the money I’m making, either I’m leaving or he’s leaving. I want to play; that’s when I have fun. Right now, this is not fun.”
I have a difficult time believing that Giguere would say something like this. He’s always been a team player and quietly worked his way back to the starting role when he lost it. But this is something that’s completely uncharacteristic. In fact, this sounds like something Dany Heatley would say. It’s all but a trade demand, in my eyes.
But the fact is Giguere has earned the chance to be a starting goalie, if not with the Ducks then some other team. He’s won a Stanley Cup and a Conn Smythe Trophy, and has done extremely well in the playoffs most games he’s played. There are quite a few teams where Giguere could become a number one goalie, but the fact that he’s owed $13 million in the next two years is prohibitive. Also consider that teams now know that Giguere is not happy, giving them a bit of a negotiating advantage over the Ducks.
Hiller, on the other hand, is only getting paid $1.3 million in the final year of his contract. He is due for a big raise, and the Ducks will be put in an interesting situation if Hiller does not agree to a contract before the trade deadline.
Stay tuned, as the Giguere situation looks like it’s becoming more fun by the week.