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Cristobal Huet’s agent seeks a European team for Huet to play for

Cristobal Huet

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Cristobal Huet, from France, looks for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames in Calgary, Alberta, on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jeff McIntosh)

AP

If you’ve been asleep the last few weeks, you might not know that Cristobal Huet’s future with the Chicago Blackhawks is in a bit of trouble. After the team walked away from Antti Niemi’s $2.75 million arbitration award and signed free agent goalie Marty Turco, the handwriting was on the wall. Huet’s future as an NHL goalie in Chicago is virtually over thanks to his massive salary cap hit of $5.625 million dollars. For the Blackhawks to be able to comfortably get under the cap, they’ll need to waive Huet and send him to the AHL.

Thankfully for Cristobal Huet, he’s got an agent in Stephen Bartlett that not only got him a massive contract that will pay him that money regardless of where he goes, but is also looking to find the 34 year-old Frenchman a new job elsewhere.

“I can’t speak for Cristobal, but I would speculate Europe would be more appealing, because both he and his wife are Europeans,” Bartlett said. “They have family there, and what not.

“If the alternatives are the AHL or playing back in Switzerland, where he has some history, I would imagine he would prefer Europe.”

Bartlett said the Hawks haven’t pressured him to act urgently.

“Chicago has to get under the cap before the start of the regular season, and I’m sure they targeted him as someone who won’t count against the cap,” he said. “I don’t think there will be undue pressure before training camp.

“They can send him to the minors at any time, and I’m appreciative of the fact they’re working with us. They’ve given me carte blanche to talk to other teams to see if we can find a solution that works best for everybody. They’ve been very cooperative.”

It’s a bit heartwarming in a way to see that the Blackhawks are being nice about everything considering that they’re essentially casting Huet aside for strictly cheaper alternatives. While Huet’s play last year didn’t endear him to any of the fans in Chicago nor perhaps the Hawks management, the contract former general manager Dale Tallon signed him is what is his ultimate undoing in the Windy City.

If you’re wondering what will happen with Huet’s contract, of which has two years left on it, it doesn’t disappear completely. Should Huet find a job to play in Europe, he’s still being paid by the Blackhawks to play for someone else it just won’t count against their cap. Once Huet is waived and sent to the minor leagues, that $5.625 million dollar cap hit goes away. See, the salary cap works after all.