José Théodore

Lore & Background

Théodore played major junior in the QMJHL for the St-Jean Lynx and Hull Olympiques, winning a President's Cup and competing in the 1995 Memorial Cup. He won the Ford Cup as top defensive player and the Guy Lafleur Trophy as playoff MVP in 1995, and was a two-time QMJHL Second Team All-Star. Drafted 44th overall by the Canadiens in 1994, he played eight seasons in Montreal. In 2001–02, he turned in a Vezina- and Hart-winning performance with a 30–24–10 record, 2.11 GAA and .931 save percentage. Both awards resulted in a tie for first place, with Théodore winning on more first-place votes over Jarome Iginla (Hart) and Patrick Roy (Vezina). He led the Canadiens to an upset of the top-seeded Boston Bruins in the 2002 playoffs. In 2006, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche after a failed drug test caused by a prescription hair loss medication, for which he had a therapeutic use exception. He later played two seasons for the Washington Capitals.

Reader's Guide

Théodore's significance lies in his 2002 season, when he became one of the few goaltenders to win both the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP and the Vezina Trophy as top goaltender. The article notes that both awards were tied in voting, with Théodore prevailing on first-place votes. His career included a notable moment on January 2, 2001, when he became the sixth goaltender to directly score a goal, and the first to do so while recording a shutout in the same game. He also participated in the 2003 Heritage Classic, the NHL's first outdoor hockey game, wearing a toque over his goalie helmet. Internationally, he won a gold medal at the 1996 World Junior Championships, where he was named best goaltender, and started for Canada at the 2001 World Championships. His legacy includes being a fan favorite in Montreal and a key factor in upsetting the Boston Bruins in the 2002 and 2004 playoffs.

Did You Know?

• Théodore won both the Hart and Vezina trophies in 2002, each in a tie for first place that he broke on more first-place votes.
• On January 2, 2001, he became the first NHL goaltender to directly score a goal and record a shutout in the same game.
• He wore a toque over his goalie helmet during the 2003 Heritage Classic, the NHL's first outdoor hockey game.
• He failed a drug test in 2006 due to a prescription hair loss medication, but received a therapeutic use exception and no NHL punishment.