Former Wild Goalie Jose Theodore Contacted Minn. After Backstrom Injury

March 2, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; Florida Panthers goalie Jose Theodore (60) before the start of the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at the PNC center. The Hurricanes defeated the Panthers 6-2. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

With the Minnesota Wild sitting at .500 with a 3-3-3 record, certainly this isn’t much as far as news goes. But it sure is interesting to think about.

According to the Star Tribune’s Michael Russo, former Wild goalie Jose Theodore, a free agent, contacted Minnesota upon the knee strain to goalie Niklas Backstrom earlier this season. Due to it being a strain and nothing worse, the Wild declined and Backstrom has missed just four games and has backed up Josh Harding for the past two. However, you have to wonder what Theodore was expecting.

Was he looking for something long term–at least, for the whole season as Harding’s backup? Or would it be something akin to a pro try-out agreement that could help him audition for another team? Was he even looking to steal the starter position out from under the pads of Backstrom and Harding?

With Harding on a roll (3-2-1 record, .948 save percentage and 1.11 goals against average) since taking over for Backstrom. all he needs is goal support and he may have just taken over the starting role in St. Paul. Thus, no need for Theodore, especially with Darcy Kuemper and Johan Gustafsson waiting in the wings. Still, it’s nice to know players want to come play for Minnesota.

As such, Theodore is still on the market looking for a team. Whoever decides to land him is getting a quality NHL netminder with 286 career wins, a career save percentage of .909, a career goals against average of 2.68 and 33 career shutouts while playing 648 regular season games with Montreal, Colorado, Washington, Minnesota and Florida.

Theodore spent the 2010-11 season with Minnesota after Harding went down with a season ending injury in preseason action. In 32 games with the Wild, he would notch a 15-11-3 record with one shutout, a .916 save percentage and 2.71 goals against average. Theodore spent the last two seasons with Florida.