CAPS GOALIE REPORT: WASHINGTON POST - HUET STARTS

Huet To Start Tonight For Caps
Move Casts Doubt On Kolzig's Future

By Tarik El-Bashir
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 29, 2008; E01


For the past decade, in good and bad times, there's been one constant for the Washington Capitals: Olie Kolzig, the team's unquestioned No. 1 goaltender.

Kolzig's reign, however, could be ending.

Tonight, when the team resumes its pursuit of a playoff spot against the Eastern Conference-leading New Jersey Devils, Kolzig is expected to watch from the bench as Cristobal Huet makes his debut in net for the Capitals.

Coach Bruce Boudreau sidestepped a question about Kolzig's future with the organization after yesterday's practice. But the fact that Huet will oppose Devils goalie Martin Brodeur in such an important game raises serious questions about the Capitals' plans for Kolzig, who is coming off a strong 34-save effort in Tuesday's 4-1 victory over Minnesota.

"We traded for a number one goalie from Montreal," Boudreau said, "and now we have two number one goalies. [Kolzig] knows he's going to play. Cristobal Huet is not coming in here to play 18 games. Olie has been playing very good as of late. Chris will play [tonight], and we'll go from there."

What about tomorrow's game against Toronto?

"If Huet is unbelievable" against the Devils, Boudreau said, "we'll go with him on Saturday."

Yesterday, Huet, 32, joined his new teammates on the ice for the first time since being acquired for a second-round draft pick at the NHL's trade deadline Tuesday. Meantime, Kolzig, 37, manned the goal at the other end of the ice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, while backup Brent Johnson watched from the bench. Suddenly the odd man out in the Capitals' awkward situation, Johnson faced shots from assistant coaches and a handful of stragglers at the conclusion of practice.

All three goalies have measured their words carefully since Huet's unanticipated addition.

"They didn't bring him in here to sit on the bench," said Kolzig, who has been in goal for 22 of the Capitals' 29 victories this season. "It's an opportunity to get him in right away and we'll go from there."

Said Huet, Montreal's No. 1 goaltender for much of the past two seasons: "I'm just going to do whatever they ask me to do. I'm ready for anything, and I'm just going to prepare for" tonight's game.

Johnson said he won't travel to New Jersey and isn't sure how much, if any, playing time he can expect over the season's final six weeks.

"I'm going to be in the crowd for a little while," Johnson said. "For me, the best thing I can do right now, instead of getting all up in arms about this and upset, is to be the team guy that I've been in the past. I'm still frustrated, but I'm not going to let it get the best of me."

Acquiring Huet was the first of three deals General Manager George McPhee made at the NHL's trade deadline in the hopes of sparking his injury-depleted club, which are five points out of the playoffs, where it hasn't been since the 2002-03 season. McPhee also traded for veteran center Sergei Fedorov and checking-line left wing Matt Cooke. A fourth trade made on Tuesday involved minor leaguers.

Cooke joined the team last night in New Jersey. Fedorov also practiced with the Capitals for the first time, centering a retooled second line with Alexander Semin and Brooks Laich. The 38-year-old also skated on the top power-play unit, joining Alex Ovechkin, Semin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green.

But the focus tonight at Prudential Center, and possibly for the remainder of the season and perhaps into the offseason, will be on Washington's starting goaltender. Huet and Kolzig are unrestricted free agents in July; Johnson has one year remaining on his contract.

"We've got 18 games left to try to get into the playoffs and we'll see what happens after that," Kolzig said. "There's things in life and in the game of hockey that are out of your control. It's how you deal with that separates you from other people. I'm just going to continue to do my work. And like I said the other day, if it's not good enough, then there's somebody else here to do it."

Kolzig's agent, Art Breeze, said he was disappointed and confused by the Capitals' decision to bring in Huet.

"I have no idea why the Capitals chose to do what they did," Breeze said. "You will have to ask that of Capitals ownership and management. The temptation to comment further is overwhelming. I am constrained, however, from additional comments from my client's professionalism. I sincerely wish I weren't.

"Olie clearly has been, and certainly continues to be, the heart and soul of the Washington Capitals. Almost single-handedly he has carried that franchise on his broad shoulders for many years. And he has many more years playing at the highest possible level ahead of him."

Whether that will be in Washington remains to be seen.

Capitals Notes: Huet changed his mind and now will wear jersey No. 38, instead of No. 33. . . . Prospect Chris Bourque was reassigned to the minor league Hershey Bears. . . . Brodeur, who stopped 37 shots to beat the Capitals, 2-1, in overtime Sunday, is expected to start for the Devils, who have won seven of their last nine games.