Cujo out till January

[talkingcanes]

Report: Cujo could be out for months

TSN.ca Staff

8/20/2003

Trying to find a new home for Curtis Joseph may be on hold.

According to a report in the Toronto Sun, the Detroit Red Wings goaltender underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair a broken ankle and is expected to be out for four or five months which means he would not be ready to play until January.

An MRI exam at a Cleveland hospital, possibly ordered by the Boston Bruins who were supposedly trying to work out a deal for Joseph, revealed that he required surgery. The injury will likely put an end to any imminent trade talks the Red Wings were having with teams interested in acquiring the goaltender.

Don Meehan, Joseph's agent, refused to comment about the injury but said he would discuss the situation further on Wednesday. Calls to Red Wings brass Ken Holland, Jim Nill and Jimmy Devellano were not returned on Tuesday.

[Jeff O Rocks]

Cujo probably broke his ankle on purpose to screw the Wings! ;)

[nccanes]

This is almost too hard to believe.

I feel bad for Cujo. I'm sure he never expected the last 12 months to go as they have.

[Turbulence]

The Wings are screwed....unless they like paying 8 million dollars for a 3rd string goalie. Nobody will take a goalie that can't play until halfway through the season, will they?

Now, are the Wings forced to shop Hasek?

[Jeff O Rocks]

Now, are the Wings forced to shop Hasek?

Now wouldn't that be freakin justice for dissin' Cujo for a criminal!!?? :D

[nccanes]

Now, are the Wings forced to shop Hasek?

You mean shop Hasek and then sign a back up for Legace? Hmmm. Won't this be interesting to see how it's resolved. :crazy:

[Guyute]

I feel bad for Cujo, cuz you know he wants to play. but, on the other hand. how frigging awesome. Wings ain't gonna have much luck pawning off an $8 million goalie who will only play half a season. hehehe

[Shell]

wow, that is huge!!! I really wonder what they will do!! Here is the original story...

Wed, August 20, 2003
Cujo: Broken wing
Ankle injury shelves plan to deal goalie to the Bruins
By STEVE SIMMONS, TORONTO SUN

The Curtis Joseph sweepstake is on hold -- possibly for months -- with the stunning news that an ankle injury puts an end to any imminent trade talk that would move him from the Detroit Red Wings. The Toronto Sun has learned that Joseph's next stop will not be Boston, or St. Louis, but a Cleveland hospital of all places, where he will undergo surgery on an injured ankle, a Detroit-based source indicated with certainty yesterday.

An MRI examination -- quite possibly ordered by the Boston Bruins, who were about to trade for Joseph -- revealed that the former Maple Leafs goalie requires surgery and that the recovery time is expected to be four or five months. That likely would mean Joseph, who has been in limbo and on the trading block since Dominik Hasek came out retirement to re-sign with the Wings, would not be ready to play until January.

Asked about the Joseph injury, Don Meehan, the goalie's normally forthcoming agent, tersely refused comment. When pressed, Meehan said he would agree to discuss the situation today.

Calls to Red Wings executives Ken Holland, Jim Nill and Jimmy Devellano went unreturned yesterday. Boston general manager Mike O'Connell could not be reached for comment. He apparently was out of town.

Joseph has not publicly commented on his situation with any depth since the shocking disclosure that Hasek would return to the Wings and Joseph, with a no-trade waiver in his contract, would certainly be dealt elsewhere.

The injury, however, changes everything for Joseph and for the Red Wings, who had hoped to have the goaltender moved elsewhere before the opening of training camp next month. Now, it's highly unlikely any deal will be made until Joseph is healthy, which poses a problem for the Red Wings, who already have Hasek and Manny Legace in goal.

Trading a healthy Joseph with a contract worth $8 million US a year was difficult enough for the Wings. Trying to find a home for him now may be even more difficult.

"We have to find out who in the industry is able to accommodate (us) and work from there," Meehan said in an interview on The Fan 590 yesterday, speaking about Joseph's situation although he wasn't asked about the goalie's apparent injury.

What isn't known is how Joseph was injured -- either while playing or during the off-season -- and which ankle it is.

[e2ipiand1]

Okay, I originally said in this post that the Wings should be alright.

Unfortunately (for the Wings that is) they have to face the waiver draft on October 3rd. Since they can only protect two goalies, somebody gets left unprotected. The only way the Wings can play this is to leave CuJo unprotected and hope that no one will claim an expensive and injured goalie.

[1Irbegirlforever]

I can't help but laugh at this whole situation. It is ironic that right after they welcome back Hasek the convict with open arms, they get a big problem thrown right back at them. I really can't say i feel one bit sorry for the wings. I do feel bad for cujo, though. i think he's a great goalie who deserves better than what the wings are doing to him...

[e2ipiand1]

According to the Detroit Red Wings' website:

DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings goaltender Curtis Joseph underwent successful posterior impingement surgery on his ankle yesterday at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH.

The procedure removed a bone chip in the back of Joseph’s ankle. Joseph is expected to return to skating in approximately six weeks.

-----

They're still going to have to get rid of him before the waiver draft

[Shell]

Update:

Red Wings: Cujo out six weeks
Canadian Press
8/20/2003

DETROIT (AP) - The Detroit Red Wings' efforts to trade Curtis Joseph were complicated this week after the goaltender had surgery on his ankle Tuesday.

"He did have successful surgery on his ankle, which was not broken," team spokesman John Hahn said Wednesday morning. "This surgery was described by team physicians as minor in nature. He should be able to return to skating in six weeks, just before the regular seasons starts."

Players report to training camp on Sept. 11 but don't start skating until the following day. If the Wings' estimate of six weeks is correct, Joseph would be skating around Sept. 30. The regular season begins on Oct. 8.

The Red Wings have been trying to trade Joseph since goalie Dominik Hasek rejoined the team this summer after retiring for one season.

The 36-year-old Joseph has $16 million and two years left on his contract, which includes a no-trade clause. Hasek has one year and $8 million remaining on his contract. The Red Wings also have Manny Legace, one of the league's best backups.

Joseph is an accomplished veteran, but it has been difficult for the Red Wings to trade him because NHL teams do not know what their salary structure will be after the league's collective bargaining agreement expires next year.

Detroit general manager Ken Holland has said he hoped to trade Joseph before training camp starts.

Boston Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell said last week he had talked to Detroit about trading for Joseph, but he didn't expect to hear back from the Red Wings "for another couple of weeks."

Messages left with Holland and Joseph's agent, Don Meehan, were not immediately returned Wednesday.

Joseph signed with Detroit last summer to improve his chances of winning his first Stanley Cup after playing 13 seasons - and 11 playoffs - with St. Louis, Edmonton and Toronto.

The Red Wings had won three Stanley Cups in six seasons with three goaltenders: Mike Vernon, Chris Osgood and Hasek. They hoped Cujo would be the fourth goalie to lead them to a championship in seven seasons, but it didn't work out.

Joseph had a 2.08 goals-against-average in the first round of the playoffs as the Red Wings were eliminated by Anaheim, which lost to New Jersey in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final.

He had an inconsistent regular season. Joseph won 15 of his last 19 regular season games to finish with a 34-19-6 record.

Hasek hasn't played as much as a pickup game as a goaltender since Detroit won the Stanley Cup against Carolina in 2002. In those playoffs, he was 16-7 and gave up fewer than two goals a game in the playoffs. He was 41-15-8 during the 2002-03 regular season.

He is a six-time Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL's best goalie, two-time Hart Trophy winner as the league's most valuable player and a gold medallist from the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

Earlier this month, prosecutors in his native Czech Republic decided not to press charges against Hasek for hurting a player during an inline hockey game.

[mhcmaggie]

i feel so sorry for cujo - the wings have really screwed him over. and after he got blamed for them getting swept by the ducks last year, it's just too much!

my secret fantasy (and i know this will probably never happen) is that cujo ends up with the avs. that way the wings would get what they deserve. if i were him, i would refuse to waive the no-trade clause except for the avs.

wouldn't that be just fabulous? :D :D :D
[b]

[Shell]

Thu, August 21, 2003
Three dog plight
No joy in Cujo's world as injury will keep him stuck in crowded Detroit net
By STEVE SIMMONS

Know this much: Had a Toronto Sun story not revealed that Curtis Joseph had ankle surgery on Tuesday, I don't think there's a chance in hell that the Detroit Red Wings or Joseph's people were about to share this information with anyone. In fact, it was in the best interest of both sides to keep this as quiet as possible.

With Joseph looking to be moved to another team.

With the Red Wings looking to rid themselves of Joseph and his $8-million US contract.

With deals close to being made.

But this is a story told in different ways depending on whom you choose to listen to and depending on whose side of the story you believe. And it's a story that indicates a certain degree of mistrust that has been built up between Joseph and the Wings since all has gone awry over the past several months.

This much is evident: Joseph played on a sore right ankle for much of the second half of this past season. At the end of the season, the Red Wings team doctors determined there was no need for surgery. They apparently told Joseph that rest would correct what is referred to as a posterior impingement of the right ankle.

But as the summer went on, Joseph didn't feel he was improving. He chose to get a second opinion in Toronto and informed the Red Wings as such. That opinion included an MRI examination. The decision was to have surgery -- and his physician of choice was Dr. Tony Miniaci, the former Blue Jays team orthopod who has since moved his practice to the world famous Cleveland Clinic. Miniaci has a number of high-profile patients including the Leafs' Gary Roberts, whom he twice operated on last summer.

It was at the Cleveland Clinic that Joseph had his right ankle operated on by Miniaci and Dr. Brian Donnelly and the expectation now is that Joseph won't be ready to play again until the start of the regular season. At the absolute earliest.

Which, for the record, is in the best interests of no one.

The Red Wings had hoped to move Joseph before the start of the season. Now, not only can't they move him, but they're going to have to play him in order to expose him to other interested teams. At the same time, it's quite likely the price of an injured goalie has lessened over time.

So instead of using Dominik Hasek almost every game and backup Manny Legace on occasion, the Wings will have to play Joseph -- at least two or three out of every 10 games -- in order to make certain he is in game condition. There's a certain disruption that goes along with carrying three goalies at any time.

And this poses another issue all its own for Joseph the family man, who moved to Detroit one year ago and enrolled his children in school. What does he do now? Does he start them in school in Michigan and move them upon being traded? Or does he start them in school in the Toronto area and keep them here for the year?

With young children involved in activities, school and minor sports, that's a problem all its own.

Almost everything about the timing of Joseph's relationship with the Red Wings has gone askew from the time he first signed in Detroit -- and that is how it is likely to end.

And yesterday, Joseph's well-known agent Don Meehan was huffing and puffing about the fact The Sun reported Joseph would be out for four to five months, rather than six to seven weeks. Meehan can huff and puff all he wants. He was given ample opportunity Tuesday to correct the error and chose not to comment.

If he has a problem with accuracy, the problem is with his own choice to run from the story rather than answer the appropriate questions.

"Ideally, I would have loved to have something done prior to the start of training camp," Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "I did not want to have to deal with the distraction of having two world-class goaltenders.

"I've always said we'd take care of this eventually. Now I don't know what eventually means."

Eventually could mean November, December or maybe later. The truth right now is, nobody can possibly know.

"This," Red Wings vice-president Jimmy Devellano said, "throws a curveball into everything."

[Shell]

CHIPS AND VINEGAR: Curtis Joseph has had mystery surgery to fix bone chips in his right ankle.

Nobody is certain how he got the injury, but suspicious minds believe it was aggravated by trade rumours to Boston. The only way the Bruins get to the Stanley Cup next year is if they visit it at the Hall of Fame.

Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch is renowned for doing anything he can to win. Maybe Curtis just stole a page out of Mike's book. Maybe he just did everything he could to win or, at least, to stay with a team with a chance to win. Maybe people shouldn't be so darn suspicious.

But, what can you expect when this whole injury thing came out of the blue like Brian Griese's dog. It's curious. And it could get even weirder if Joseph somehow wound up saving the Red Wings from themselves. The Wings' theory that Dominik Hasek is better than Joseph could be seriously flawed. Hasek hasn't played in a year and how much faith can a team put in a failed in-line hockey player. Joseph had a 2.08 goals-against average in the playoffs, so why does everybody want to banish him to the Gulag, otherwise known as the Bruins?

Anyway, doctors say they've successfully removed all the chips from Cujo's ankle. They're still checking for the one on his shoulder. You know, just in case.

[moonstomper]

what a humorous (for me anyways) and unfortunate (for all parties involved) turn of events the last few days have been...

[mr. chubby]

I echo the sentiments of Cujo playing for the Avs, with the Avs eliminating the wings. And I'd also like to see Irbe as a redwing!!

blhahahhaa

[Shell]

Definitely agree with this article..

Wings' Legace deserves to be No. 1 goalie
Kara Yorio
Sept. 2, 2003

Forget Curtis Joseph. Think Manny Legace.

Let the Red Wings carry a $16 million duo of Joseph and Dominik Hasek and a distracting soap opera into the season. The great goaltending pickup of this summer will not be CuJo or Felix Potvin, who still is waiting for his phone to ring as an unrestricted free agent. No, the best move to get a No. 1 goaltender will be the one that nets Legace.

Look at the numbers-and yes, they came behind a pretty good team, but they are good enough to show he'd have a chance behind a less impressive roster.

Legace, 30, has been a Red Wings backup for three seasons. In 2000-01, he played in 39 games, going 24-5-5 with a 2.05 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. The next season, he played in 20 games but was 10-6-2 with a 2.42 GAA and .911 save percentage.

Last season, he played in 25 games, went 14-5-4 with a 2.18 GAA and .925 save percentage. The Red Wings played him in key games down the stretch, and scouts didn't wonder whether Legace should be playing ahead of Joseph. They instead wondered how a team could afford to sit its $8 million starter for the backup. In the end, the Wings couldn't. Joseph played. Legace sat.

Now is the time for someone to get him off the bench.

Legace cannot be sent to the minors without clearing waivers, which he'd never do, so the Wings should deal if the offer is right. Would it leave them without a backup should they later ship off Joseph? Yes. But that's an easier situation solved than the one they're in now. They can deal with the future when the new collective-bargaining agreement is signed.

Teams won't trade for Joseph until he proves his surgically repaired ankle is OK. Even before Joseph's surgery, his $8 million price tag was too high for most. The Wings could waive Joseph, but who would pick up him-and his salary? Nobody. So he remains a Wing. Though he could be sent to the minors, why would the Wings-or anyone who would pick him up off waivers-pay someone that much to dominate the AHL?

No, Joseph will be on the NHL roster-and he must play to prove he's sound. So there's no rush. Interested teams should sit back and let the Red Wings sink under the weight of their embarrassment of riches. Wait until the season drags on a bit, until the drama slows them down, until Hasek and Joseph get tired of answering the same questions and some of Joseph's salary has been paid by the Wings.

That's when the interested teams should make a deal. Drive the Wings down. But that's for the loser in what should be a battle for Legace.

Attention Bruins, Rangers and Blues: Make Manny Legace your No. 1. Let's see what he's got over 60-65 games. He has shown he deserves the chance, and he should be available for the right price. Call Wings general manager Ken Holland and get a deal done. The Wings say Joseph will be ready for the start of the season, so that means he'll be their backup. Trading for Legace is a low-risk, high-reward opportunity. If he doesn't work out, it was a $1.1 million mistake and you're back where you started. Give the Wings a center or some youth with potential. Give them somebody you may have to jettison when the CBA negotiations set new rules, such as a possible salary cap.

Legace is the man you want. Forget Joseph. Let the Wings have it all-Hasek and Joseph and endless reporters' questions. Legace, not Joseph, is the prize in pads. And the price is right.

[cmw00]

But then again, Legace has never had to feel the true pressure of being the number 1 goalie.

Although he probaly couldn't below weekes if any at all, but with Weekes atleast we know what he can do healthy and un healthy.

But with that article suggesting they plan to keep Cujo and Hasek, then we shouldn't try to do anything, since we will have first say on anybody sent to waivers. If legace is sent to waivers then I'd love to take a chance on him. He isn't that expensive and we'll have more money to work with after next seaon more than likely!

[cmw00]

and just a tidbit about waivers for those who may not know. NHL teams can only protect 2 NHL goalies from waivers before a certain point before the season starts. I'm not sure about how many people they can protect in other spots but only 2 goalies.

Now detroit really has a big problem on there hands. If they keep Hasek and Cujo waive legace, Legace will surely be taken. That leaves them with $16 million in 2 goalies. If they waive Cujo there is a good chance nobody will pick him up due to surgeries and his contract. If nobody picks him up Detroit will be stuck with him.

So detroit is in a rather large predicement until somthing gets sorted out.

[Turbulence]

Wings' Legace deserves to be No. 1 goalie


All I can say is, it's about freaking time that somebody gave Legace the time of day. The guy's the best backup in the league right now by far...his numbers in the past 3 seasons, playing about 25 games per season, show without hesitation how easily this guy could start for Detroit and deliver a good product. He was a rock last year when CuJo was struggling. He deserved the starting job last year, and the Detroit fans let him hear about it when CuJo was sucking, chanting "We Want Manny..."
And now they go and pick up Hasek, giving Legace no chance of claiming the starter's role (Just because Hasek is Hasek...even if he is washed up. I guess we'll see how he does in camp)

He'll be #1 in Detroit next year...but I fear that this year is lost. I'd gladly take Legace over many of the goalies in the league today.

[Shell]

Wed, September 10, 2003
Cujo's ankle better
By Terry Koshan and CP

Curtis Joseph's ankle is healing well and the Detroit Red Wings goalie is on track to begin practising full-out on Sept. 29, his agent said yesterday. "He is coming along nicely, and that (target date) is in accordance with (the original prognosis)," Don Meehan said.

Joseph had surgery to remove bone chips from his right ankle on Aug. 19. The Red Wings were hoping to find Joseph a new home before training camp started, but in all likelihood will begin the season with Joseph and Dominik Hasek, who returned from one year of retirement.

SIGNINGS: In NHL player signings yesterday, the Florida Panthers signed 35-year-old defenceman Lyle Odelein to a one-year contract, the Calgary Flames re-signed defenceman Mike Commodore and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent left winger Craig Johnson on a one-year deal.

SOLD: Former NHL star Bobby Smith is the new owner of the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec junior league.