Former Blackhawks goaltender Cristobal Huet wants to return to the NHL after playing in Europe over the last two years.
He was loaned to HC Fribourg-Gotteron SA of the Swiss National League A to provide salary-cap relief from the last two seasons of his four-year, 22.4 million contract after the team won the 2010 Stanley Cup. After spending the 2010 postseason on the bench and playing overseas, Huet is ready to prove he's more than capable to once again play in the NHL.
"I still belong, I'm better than some other guys, and I'd like another shot," Huet recently stated. "I'd love to come back, but I know once you are out of the League a little bit, guys tend to forget about you and that's the nature of the beast. But I still think I have something to show in the NHL, and to prove I still belong there. For me, it would be a great second chance to come back and play in the best League."
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Huet added that his agent has spoken to a few NHL teams on the possibility of a return.
But Huet will have to be patient as the goaltending market has come to a halt as teams wait to find out where Roberto Luongo will end up. Recent statements from Canucks general manager Mike Gillis taught us that the team feels no rush in dealing Luongo, and if a deal does get put in place, it may not happen until after the 2012-13 regular season begins.
Huet was with the Blackhawks for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons, playing 89 games and averaging a .902 save percentage. He went 46-29-4 in Chicago and was selected in the seventh round of the 2001 draft by the Los Angeles Kings.