Latest Headlines on OCRegister.com
[x] Close
Ducks blog ~ The latest on the Anaheim Ducks, by the Orange County Register Sports staff
« Previous Post
Next Post »

Giguere vents frustration

November 10th, 2009, 2:34 pm · 13 Comments · posted by Curtis Zupke, Staff writer

The season hasn’t exactly gone as planned for goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere. giguere

The expected competition with Jonas Hiller for the No.1 job never really materialized in training camp. Giguere then got hurt, and trade rumors picked up again, specifically with Toronto.

Giguere made his dissatisfaction with his backup role known at the end of last season, and he let it be known again before the Ducks left for a four-game road trip.

It can’t get much worse, can it?

Stay tuned.

Share this post:
  • E-mail this story to a friend!
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google
  • Fark
  • StumbleUpon
  • TwitThis
ADVERTISEMENT

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

 13 Comments

  • Alisa says:
    November 10, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    As if this team didn’t already have enough drama.

    I respect Jiggy, but I think that airing out your grievances to the media is not a smart move. I understand he’s trying to protect himself and he’s posturing to either get more ice time or to be moved. But he needs to understand that he signed a contract and he needs to honor that contract. What he said about wanting to retire rather than be a backup, well it’s rather childish in my book. He’s throwing a tantrum because he’s not getting his way.

    Nothing in life is a guarantee. When he signed his contract 2 seasons ago, it wasn’t a guarantee that he’d be the #1 for the rest of his career. No one can make that guarantee.

    He has to EARN that job. And so far I haven’t seen anything out of him to show that he’s EARNED the job.

    If he’s going to bring down morale in the room because he can’t accept his role on the team, then perhaps it’s time to part ways with him.

    I respect what he’s done for this franchise and this community. He carried us to the SCF in ‘03 and he was a big piece in winning the Cup in ‘07. But today is ‘09 and he is a shadow of the Jiggy he was then. And this team can’t go on continuing to live in the past and past glory. We need to worry about the today, about the now, and give ourselves the best chance possible to win today.

    Post Reply
  • OsamaRosenberg says:
    November 10, 2009 at 3:45 pm

    Nice team attitude J.S. Good way to build your value for a trade.

    Post Reply
  • Jack O. Snap says:
    November 10, 2009 at 5:07 pm

    Why link TSN? Is LA Daily News that much of a competing newspaper? Seems like good form to link to J.P. Hoornstra’s article.

    Post Reply
  • czhokej says:
    November 10, 2009 at 7:30 pm

    We already have enough turmoil in the locker room. Most players do not like and do not respect our coach (and coaching), and those who were displaying their opinions too openly were traded. However, Jiggy’s issues are more personal, more self-centered, and it will increase the tensions among players, and it will have a negative effect on Hiller too (maybe it’s already happening).

    Post Reply
  • Paul says:
    November 10, 2009 at 8:24 pm

    6.5 million ….during a recession. I’m just saying….Jiggy, swallow your pride man. There would be litterally thousands of people that would love to be in your shoes…err..skates.

    Post Reply
  • Slugger says:
    November 10, 2009 at 9:09 pm

    Before this incident happened I thought it would be a rather idiotic move to trade giguere for taskola because I thought the ducks could get so much more for him in return. Now I’m not so sure. I would say this lowers his trade value quite a bit. Hopefully he can turn his frustrations into success on the ice this week, my fantasy pool is lacking in the goalie department!

    Post Reply
  • Marc says:
    November 10, 2009 at 9:56 pm

    The fact that Carlyle has benched him is what lowered his trade value not his comments. What he said is a reflection of a coach he does not like nor trust.

    He was promised an opportunity to win back the starting job, but it’s clear from the way Carlyle utilized the goalies that no such competition existed. Hiller was, is and will continue to be Carlyle’s #1.

    Where this is a problem for the Ducks is that they have no suitable backup - and even Toskala is not that.

    Pielmier is at least 2 years out and Pogge would need an incredible turn around to be suitable.

    The departure of Giguere signals the end of the current “Cup window” and will soon be followed by retirements from Niedermayer and Selanne in April.

    Post Reply
    • Stephen says:
      November 11, 2009 at 8:25 am

      Giguere has been dealing with this “groin” issue for most of the season. Before Giguere injured it in the game against Columbus, Giguere and the Coach were being “cautious” in the game(s) before that.

      Hiller is a great goalie and has proven that every year with his stats. He has been more brilliant this year than bad. He will get things figured out and will become more consistent once again. Him and Giguere are both dealing with a new goaltending coach.

      If Giguere were to be traded, it does not close the window on a Stanley Cup. Hiller was the one in goal last post-season and he showed he is capable of playing on that stage. Have some faith in this team to make the “best” decision for the team.

      Post Reply
  • Kirk says:
    November 11, 2009 at 3:01 am

    I don’t agree with the way he went about it, but I really don’t blame Giguere for venting. We don’t know what was said to him by coaching/management regarding his opportunity to get the No. 1 spot back, but it seems that he really hasn’t gotten a fair chance to earn his job back. Yes he had a tough year last year, but we know what he was dealing with. Truth of the matter is that it seems as though Hiller has been treated as the veteran in this situation, not Giguere.

    Some of the things that Giguere gets criticized for, Hiller seems to get a pass on. Giguere has really only had two bad periods this year (3rd against Minnesota, 2nd against Columbus). He gave up 3 PPGs against Minny, but the PK was horrible (Although the Belanger goal was his fault, no doubt about that). Hiller had a bad game on the PK against Toronto and he got a pass. Some of the goals against Giguere in the Columbus game were fluky and some he got screened on. He got beat up for the ones he got screened on, but Hiller gets a pass for the Pittsburgh goals.

    It just seems like some fans (including some posters here) and perhaps the coaches have turned their backs on him, and for a guy who has taken the team to two finals and a cup that might be a little frustrating.

    Plus, I would much rather have a goalie that wants to start then one who wants to be a back up. Again, he didn’t go about it the right way, but he’s been pretty patient and said the right things up to now. I can understand why he vented.

    Post Reply
  • czhokej says:
    November 11, 2009 at 6:40 am

    Marc, in this situation, I have to side with our coach. He has to go with the goalie who is better, and Hiller was and still is the better netminder (in spite of some mistakes).
    I have accused Randy of favoritism many times before, but this is not the case. Our Cup window started closing long time ago, with the departure of AndyMac, and then Pronger and others, and with the system we still play.

    Post Reply
  • SoCal says:
    November 11, 2009 at 9:35 am

    We have a great team; they just need some time to gel. The Cup window is wide open, as long as we have the line of Getzlaf-Perry-Ryan, Lupul, Hiller, etc… we have a ton of talent.

    Post Reply
  • Lynne says:
    November 11, 2009 at 11:41 am

    RC said at the start of the season…you win the game and you stay in. I have to agree both goalies have not been great, but due to Jiggy injury and Hiller playing better, is the reason he is in net right now.

    I am sad to hear Jiggy say those things about HIller. In the recent past they were both quoted as they support each other. I guess that is gone now. Too bad this was said, the team is playing very good hockey in the last 3-4 games and I think they are coming together as a good team. I would hate to see what Jiggy said cause a negative reaction to the locker room.

    We will see what happens on this road trip…it might be a time for a trade or like what Jiggy said..maybe he should retire. Bring up Pogge and see what he can do, along with Hiller.

    Post Reply

Leave a Reply