Anaheim Ducks goaltender J.S. Giguere has said he'd rather retire than be a backup goalie, according to the L.A. Daily News.
Giguere has now fully recovered from a strained groin he suffered on October 24, and the Montreal native will be joining the Ducks for their upcoming four-game road trip. The only issue?
Jonas Hiller has started the last six games for the Ducks, and now it will essentially be up to the 32-year-old Giguere to earn back the No. 1 spot. If is unable to do that, Giguere is making himself pretty clear about his thoughts on the matter.
"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."
Giguere is set to earn $13 million over the next two seasons, while the 27-year-old Hiller will make $1.3 million in the final year of his deal.
That means Giguere could be on his way out of Anaheim if general manager Bob Murray decides to make a trade and Giguere is willing to waive his no-trade clause.
Justin Pogge was assigned to Bakersfield of the ECHL to clear space for the returning veteran goaltender
I've heard some rumblings that burke is trying to bring Giguere to Toronto........IMO he was one of the Top 5 goalies in the League a fewyears back, and obviously when they won the Cup in 07. Had the Monster not signed here in Toronto, Giguere had the Leafs as one of the teams that he wouldaccept a trade to. As well, our current goalie coach was the old goalie coach in Anaheim with JS. I'm not sure that the Monster can handle a full season asthe prominent #1 on our team just yet, but he's been nothing but spectacular (including in back to back games) so far. I think with the death of hisFather, and his own son being sick really is what caused Giguere's game to go south......I hope he can come back though.
