yup, confirmed in article below. Pat is rarely wrong.
this might motivate Theo some tonight?:
"Garon was also named Friday as the Molson Cup Player of the Month for February. ......A presentation honoring Garon will take place at the Bell Centre prior to Saturday?s game against the Vancouver Canucks. "
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March 1, 2003
Habs sign Garon
Two-year contract. 'This deal gives me some security,' goaltender says
By PAT HICKEY
Montreal Gazette
Canadiens goalie Mathieu Garon, signed yesterday to a multimillion-dollar two-year deal, said he acknowledges he's the backup to Jos? Theodore, who'll start tonight in a crucial game against the Vancouver Canucks.
Mathieu Garon has no illusions about the significance of winning the February segment of the Molson Cup competition.
"It was a short month and the team didn't really play that well," said Garon, whose hockey career has taken off in the last month.
The announcement of the Molson Cup results was accompanied by a statemant confirming Garon has reached agreement on a contract, eliminating the possibility of the goaltender becoming an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
"I've waited five years for the opportunity to play here, and this is where I want to be," said Garon, who agreed to a two-year, one-way contract with a team option for a third season. While neither side revealed the financial details of the deal, it's believed Garon will receive $1 million and $1.1 million, respectively, in the first two years with the option year set at $1.6 million. All figures are in U.S. dollars.
"This deal gives me some security," said Garon, whose two-way contract this season pays him $907,500 U.S. with the Canadiens, but only $75,000 Canadian when he was in the American Hockey League.
Garon said he's accepted the fact he'll be the backup to Jos? Theodore, a role he will fill tonight when the Canadiens are home to the streaking Vancouver Canucks (7 p.m., CBC, RDS, Radio-Canada, CJAD Radio-800).
"Every goaltender's goal is to become No. 1, but I know I have to prove myself," said Garon, who was roughed up in Thursday's 6-3 loss to Minnesota. It was the first time in four starts Garon failed to earn at least a point in the Canadiens' uphill battle to capture a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The loss was the fifth in a row for the Canadiens, and the only reason they're still in the playoff race is because the eighth-place Boston Bruins have only one win in their last eight games. The Bruins are four points up on Montreal, but also hold two games in hand.
"The confidence is down," veteran Doug Gilmour admitted, "but I don't think anyone thinks that we're out of it. Momentum is a funny thing. All it takes is one win and people start thinking positive again. If we win tomorrow and then we go on the road and some of that pressure you feel at home is gone, you never know what can happen."
Getting that win tonight may prove difficult. While the Canadiens won only three of 12 games in February, the Canucks are the hottest team in the NHL. Led by Markus Naslund, the league's top scorer, they had a
14-game unbeaten string before losing to San Jose Thursday night. Even in defeat, they showed their mettle by rallying from a 3-0 deficit in the third period before falling 3-2.
One glimmer of hope for the Canadiens is that the Canucks came out of the San Jose game with some injuries. Defenceman Mattias Ohlund didn't accompany the team to Montreal yesterday, and neither did No. 1 goaltender Dan Cloutier, who has been out for a while with a sprained knee. Ohlund suffered a similar knee injury when he was hit by San Jose's Matt Bradley after a whistle.
Todd Bertuzzi is in Montreal, but the team's No. 2 scorer may not be available tonight. He suffered a cut above the eye when he was clipped by Evgeni Nabokov's stick and will be evaluated today.
Tonight marks the last home game before the Canadiens embark on a six-game road trip taking them to Anaheim, San Jose, Los Angeles, Nashville, Florida and Atlanta. Anaheim is the only team in that group currently holding a playoff spot, and that means the Canadiens could be in a position to make a run.
"We had a seven-game winning streak to make the playoffs last season, and we need the same kind of run this year," Gilmour said. "But the important thing is to get that first win."
Notes - Mariusz Czerkawski and Fran?ois Beauchemin were both returned to Hamilton yesterday, and Mike Ribeiro will return from the injured-reserve list today. ...
The Hull Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League honoured Theodore yesterday for his accomplishments with the team by retiring his number. No. 33 was raised to the rafters of the team's arena. ...
The Canadiens attracted 650 donors to their annual blood drive at the Bell Centre yesterday.
