Theodore played 16 seasons in the NHL in a career highlighted by his performance in 2001-02, when he became the third goalie in League history to win the Vezina Trophy as top goalie and the Hart Trophy as most valuable player in the same season.
The Montreal Canadiens selected Theodore in the second round (No. 44) of the 1994 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut in a relief appearance against the Hartford Whalers on Feb. 21, 1996, split the next three seasons between the Canadiens and Fredericton, their American Hockey League affiliate, and became their starter in 2000-01, finishing 20-29 with five ties, a 2.57 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage. He also became the sixth goalie to score a goal when he shot the puck into an empty net in a 3-0 win against the New York Islanders on Jan. 2, 2001.
Theodore played 16 seasons in the NHL in a career highlighted by his performance in 2001-02, when he became the third goalie in League history to win the Vezina Trophy as top goalie and the Hart Trophy as most valuable player in the same season.
The Montreal Canadiens selected Theodore in the second round (No. 44) of the 1994 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut in a relief appearance against the Hartford Whalers on Feb. 21, 1996, split the next three seasons between the Canadiens and Fredericton, their American Hockey League affiliate, and became their starter in 2000-01, finishing 20-29 with five ties, a 2.57 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage. He also became the sixth goalie to score a goal when he shot the puck into an empty net in a 3-0 win against the New York Islanders on Jan. 2, 2001.
Theodore's breakout season came in 2001-02 when he played 67 games and led the NHL a .931 save percentage. He had 30 wins, a 2.11 GAA and seven shutouts. The Canadiens returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a three-year absence and upset the top-seeded Boston Bruins in the first round.
Two seasons later, Theodore won an NHL career-high 33 games. But his numbers declined in during the 2005-06 season, and he was traded by the Canadiens to the Colorado Avalanche on March 8, 2006.
Theodore rebounded in 2007-08 by going 28-21-3 with a 2.44 GAA and .910 save percentage. He became a free agent after the season and signed with the Washington Capitals on July 1, 2008.
In his two seasons with the Capitals, Theodore went 32-17-5 in 2008-09 and 30-7-7 in 2009-10, which included a season-ending 20-0-4 run that ultimately won him the Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey.
He signed with the Minnesota Wild as a backup in 2010-11, then played two seasons with the Florida Panthers before retiring in 2013. Theodore finished his career 286-254-39 with 30 ties, a 2.68 GAA, .909 save percentage and 33 shutouts. In the playoffs, he was 21-30 with a 2.79 GAA, .912 save percentage and two shutouts.
After retiring, Theodore kept his connection to hockey by becoming a columnist for the Journal de Montreal.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- QMJHL Second All-Star Team (1995, 1996)
- WJC-A All-Star Team (1996)
- WJC-A - Best Goaltender (1996)
- NHL Second All-Star Team (2002)
- Played in NHL All-Star Game (2002, 2004)
- Signed as a free agent by Djurgarden (Sweden), December 20, 2004.
- Traded to Colorado by Montreal for David Aebischer, March 8, 2006.
- Signed as a free agent by Washington, July 1, 2008.
- Signed as a free agent by Minnesota, October 2, 2010.
- Signed as a free agent by Florida, July 1, 2011.
