Jean-Sébastien Giguère is a Canadian professional
ice hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltenderIn ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
currently playing with the
Colorado AvalancheThe Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
of the
National Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL). He played
major juniorJunior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
with the
Verdun Collège FrançaisVerdun Collège Français were a junior ice hockey team from Verdun, Quebec. They were members of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1991 to 1994. Collège Français resurrected the dormant Quebec Remparts franchise in 1985 after a three year hiatus, as Longueuil Collège Français...
and
Halifax MooseheadsThe Halifax Mooseheads are a CHL ice hockey club in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The team was founded in 1994 and began play in the Dilio division of the QMJHL for the 1994-1995 season. While the franchise has never won a league championship, they have...
in the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey LeagueThe Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
(QMJHL), where he was drafted 13th overall by the
Hartford WhalersThe Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
in the
1995 NHL Entry DraftThe 1995 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta. The drafting order was now set partially by a lottery system whereby teams would not be guaranteed first pick if they finished last. Instead, a draft lottery was instituted in which the winner of the lottery could move...
. He played in the
Calgary FlamesThe Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
organization for three seasons before joining the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in 2000. Giguère won the
Conn Smythe TrophyThe Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
in
2003The 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs, the National Hockey League championship, began on April 9, 2003, following the 2002–03 regular season. The playoffs concluded on June 9, 2003, with the New Jersey Devils defeating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games.The sixteen qualifying teams played...
before winning the
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
with the Ducks in
2007The 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 11, 2007. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the...
. Giguère and
Chris ProngerChristopher Robert Pronger is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and captain for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League . Originally selected 2nd overall by the Hartford Whalers in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, Pronger has played for Hartford, the St...
were the only former Hartford Whalers still active in the NHL as of the end of the
2010–11 seasonThe 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech...
.
Early career
Giguère was drafted out of the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey LeagueThe Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
(QMJHL) by the
Hartford WhalersThe Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
13th overall in the
1995 NHL Entry DraftThe 1995 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta. The drafting order was now set partially by a lottery system whereby teams would not be guaranteed first pick if they finished last. Instead, a draft lottery was instituted in which the winner of the lottery could move...
. After a four-year major junior career that included QMJHL Second Team All-Star honours in 1997, he made his NHL debut with the Whalers, playing in eight games at the end of the 1996–97 season.
The following off-season, on August 25, 1997, Giguère was traded to the
Calgary FlamesThe Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
with centre
Andrew CasselsAndrew Cassels is a retired professional ice hockey centre who played sixteen seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals...
for forward Gary Roberts and goaltender
Trevor KiddTrevor Kidd is a former NHL goaltender who last played for the Hannover Scorpions in Germany. Throughout his 12-year National Hockey League career, Kidd played for the Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs...
. He played the entirety of the
1997–98 seasonThe 1997–98 AHL season was the 62nd season of the American Hockey League. The AHL shifts teams in their divisions, and the Canadian division reverts to being named Atlantic division. The Northern conference is renamed the Eastern conference, and the Southern conference renamed the Western...
in the
American Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) with Calgary's minor league affiliate, the
Saint John FlamesThe Saint John Flames were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League from 1993 to 2003 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. The Calgary Flames bought and relocated the Utica Devils, to be their AHL affiliate....
. He recorded a 2.46
goals against averageGoals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
(GAA) and a .926
save percentageSave percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops...
in 31 games in his professional rookie season with Saint John. Giguère spent four seasons in the Flames organization, making brief 15- and 7-game appearances with Calgary in 1998–99 and 1999–2000, respectively, while spending most of his time in the AHL.
Anaheim Ducks (2000-2010)
On June 10, 2000, Giguère was traded to the
Mighty Ducks of AnaheimThe Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
for a 2nd round pick in
2000The 2000 NHL Entry Draft was held from June 24 to 25 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, following the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft on June 23 for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild...
(later traded to the
Washington CapitalsThe Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
; the Capitals selected
Matt PettingerMatthew Pettinger is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who is currently playing for Kölner Haie of the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga . He has previously played in the National Hockey League with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks and the Washington Capitals...
). He began the 2000-01 season with the Mighty Ducks' farm team, the
Cincinnati Mighty DucksThe Cincinnati Mighty Ducks were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, at the Cincinnati Gardens.-History:...
, until he was recalled from the AHL. Giguère eventually took over
Dominic RousselDominic Roussel is a former professional ice hockey goaltender.-Playing career:Roussel was selected in the third round of the 1988 NHL Entry Draft, 63rd overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers and made his NHL debut during the 1991–92 season...
's backup position to starter
Guy HebertGuy Andre Hebert is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender. He is a graduate of La Salle Institute in Troy and Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. Despite being an American, he used the French pronunciation of his first and last name. During his NHL career he played for the St...
. Due to only brief stints in the NHL during his tenures with Hartford and Calgary, the 2000–01 season qualified as Giguère's rookie NHL season. He played in 34 games, posting a 2.57 GAA and .911 save percentage.
In the off-season, he was re-signed by the Mighty Ducks on August 17, 2001. Giguère continued to improve in 2001–02, his first full season with the Ducks, recording a 2.13 GAA and .920 save percentage in 53 games. In the 2002–03 season, he posted his first winning season, with a 34-22-6 record, as well as a career-high eight
shutoutIn team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s.
Giguère's first winning season in the NHL helped the Mighty Ducks enter the
2003 playoffsThe 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs, the National Hockey League championship, began on April 9, 2003, following the 2002–03 regular season. The playoffs concluded on June 9, 2003, with the New Jersey Devils defeating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games.The sixteen qualifying teams played...
as the seventh seed in the
Western ConferenceThe Western Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Eastern Conference....
. From that point, Giguere delivered one of the greatest playoff performances in NHL history as he helped lead the team on a
Cinderella runIn American and Canadian sports, a Cinderella or "Cinderella Story" refers to a team or player who advances much further in a tournament or career than originally anticipated. Cinderellas tend to gain much media and fan attention as they move closer to the championship game at the end of the...
to their first
Stanley Cup FinalsThe Stanley Cup Finals is the championship series to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, emblematic of the professional club championship of ice hockey. Although the Cup itself has existed since 1893, an annual championship series between professional teams was not established until 1913...
. Facing the defending
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
champions and second-seeded
Detroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
in the opening round, Giguère set an NHL record for most saves by a goaltender in their playoff debut with 63 in the Mighty Ducks' 2–1 triple overtime win in Game 1 (surpassing
Toronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
goalie
Jiří CrhaJiří Crha is a retired Czech professional ice hockey goaltender who played two seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs....
's mark by two saves). This record would later be broken by
Vancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
goalie
Roberto LuongoRoberto Luongo is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . Born in Montreal, Quebec, he is of Italian and Irish ancestry. He employs the butterfly style of goaltending...
, who stopped 72 shots in his playoff debut versus the
Dallas StarsThe Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
in 2007. The Ducks would proceed to shock the hockey world by sweeping the Red Wings in four games, with Giguere labeled as the star of the series. The Mighty Ducks then faced the
Dallas StarsThe Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
. Giguère stopped 60 of 63 Dallas shots in the series opener, a five-overtime Anaheim win. Giguere recorded his first
shutoutIn team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
of the playoffs in Game 4, stopping 28 shots. The Mighty Ducks eventually eliminated the Stars in six games, and moved on to the Western Conference Finals to face the
Minnesota WildThe Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
. Giguère held the Wild to an all-time best-of-7 series low of one goal in the entire series, which included a franchise record shutout streak of 217 minutes and 54 seconds (later surpassed by
Ilya BryzgalovIlya Nikolayevich Bryzgalov is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League after being acquired by the team on June 7, 2011. He was selected in the second round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, 44th overall, by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.In...
in
2006The 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs for the National Hockey League championship began on April 21, 2006, following the 2005–06 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, seeded one through eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series with re-seeding after the conference quarterfinals...
).
However, the Mighty Ducks' dream of hoisting the Stanley Cup were stopped by the
New Jersey DevilsThe New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, to whom Anaheim lost in a seven-game series. Giguère finished the playoffs undefeated in seven overtime games, setting a record for the longest playoff overtime shutout streak at 168 minutes and 27 seconds. He finished with a 15-6 record overall, a 1.62 GAA and .945 save percentage, as well as fewer losses than Finals counterpart
Martin BrodeurMartin Pierre Brodeur is a French-Canadian ice hockey goaltender who has played his entire National Hockey League career with the New Jersey Devils. In his 19-year tenure with the Devils, he has won three Stanley Cup championships and has been in the playoffs every year but two...
. He was the fifth player to receive the
Conn Smythe TrophyThe Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
as playoff MVP as part of the losing team and the first since
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
goaltender
Ron HextallRonald Jeffrey Hextall is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 13 National Hockey League seasons for the Philadelphia Flyers, Quebec Nordiques, and New York Islanders...
won in 1987. Along with the Conn Smythe, he received the 2003
ESPY-People:* Cecil Espy , American baseball player* Duane Espy, American baseball figure* James Pollard Espy , American meteorologist.* Mike Espy , American politician* William Gray Espy , American actor...
award for best hockey player. The only other goalie ever to do so is
Dominik HasekDominik Hašek is a Czech ice hockey goaltender who is currently with HC Spartak Moscow of the KHL.In his 16-season National Hockey League career, he played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, and the Ottawa Senators. During his years in Buffalo, he became one of the...
.
Giguère's playoff MVP performance was rewarded in the off-season with a four-year contract extension, signed on September 10, 2003. However, his performance was inconsistent throughout much of the 2003-04 season as the Mighty Ducks missed the playoffs. He posted a 17-31-6 record and his GAA increased to 2.62. Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Giguère went overseas to play for the
Hamburg FreezersThe Hamburg Freezers are a member of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga that play their games in Hamburg, Germany. Originally known as the Munich Barons from 1999 until 2002, team owner Philip Anschutz relocated the franchise to Hamburg for financial reasons on 3 June 2002, and renamed the team the...
in
GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Giguère returned to an improved Mighty Ducks squad as NHL play resumed in 2005–06. Anaheim returned to the playoffs and made it to the Western Conference Finals, where they were eliminated by the
Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
. Giguère, however, appeared in just four games as Russian rookie backup
Ilya BryzgalovIlya Nikolayevich Bryzgalov is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League after being acquired by the team on June 7, 2011. He was selected in the second round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, 44th overall, by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.In...
took over the starting position during the playoffs. Giguère missed the first game of the opening round against the Calgary Flames due to injury, but returned for games two through five. During Game 5, Giguère was pulled after allowing three goals on eight shots. Bryzgalov took over and subsequently reeled off three consecutive shutouts spanning the first and second rounds against Calgary and the
Colorado AvalancheThe Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
, tying an NHL playoff record and breaking Giguère's 2003 club record of consecutive playoff shutout minutes.
Entering the final season of his contract in 2006–07, Giguère earned his starting role back. In the first month of the season, October 2006, he did not lose a single game in regulation. He proceeded to put up a career-high 36 wins in 56 games.
Prior to the
2007 Stanley Cup PlayoffsThe 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 11, 2007. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the...
, Giguère and his wife welcomed a newborn son, Maxime-Oliver. Giguère missed the Ducks' last three regular season games as well as the first three games of their opening round matchup with the Minnesota Wild, with Bryzgalov taking over in Giguère's absence. He returned late in the series and was the Ducks' starter the rest of the way. During the second round against the
Vancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, his eight-game overtime winning streak in the playoffs was snapped on April 27, 2007, in a 2–1 defeat in Game 2. Nevertheless, Giguère and the Ducks went on to eliminate the Canucks en route to the
2007 Stanley Cup FinalsThe 2007 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2006–07 season. As a culmination of the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Western Conference champion Anaheim Ducks defeated the Eastern Conference champion Ottawa Senators in...
, where they won their first ever
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
championship in a 6-2 Game 5 win against the
Ottawa SenatorsThe Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
on June 6, 2007.
On June 21, 2007, the Ducks announced that they had re-signed Giguère to a multi-year contract. Giguère posted a 35-17-6 record with a career-best 2.12 GAA in the
2007–08 seasonThe 2007–08 NHL season was the 91st season of operation of the National Hockey League . It began on September 29, 2007, with the regular season ending April 6, 2008...
. Despite his numbers, the defending champion Ducks were defeated in the first round of the 2008 playoffs by the Dallas Stars in six games.
Giguère recorded sub-par numbers during the 2008–09 season, going 19-18-6 with a 3.10 goals against average, sharing an increased amount of playing time to his backup
Jonas HillerJonas Hiller is a Swiss professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
. This did not deter him from being voted into the 2009 NHL All-Star Game in his hometown of
MontrealMontreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. As Hiller outplayed Giguere throughout the season, however, he was chosen over Giguere to start during the
2009 playoffsThe 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 15, 2009, after the 2008–09 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference , play a best-of-seven series for the conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and...
. Giguère's only appearance for the Ducks in the playoffs was in relief of Hiller in the third period of Game 4 of the Ducks' second round series with the Detroit Red Wings, to whom the Ducks would eventually fall in seven games.
Giguère suffered a groin strain early in the
2009–10 seasonThe 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
on October 24, 2009. With Hiller's continued emergence as a bona-fide starter, Giguère publicly told
L.A. Daily News on November 10 that he "would rather retire than be a backup goalie," fuelling a goaltending controversy on the team. Losing his starting position to Hiller, he did not record his first win of the season until November 23 in a 3–2 shootout victory over the
Calgary FlamesThe Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
.
Toronto Maple Leafs (2010-2011)
Giguère was traded to the
Toronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
on January 31, 2010, for goaltender
Vesa ToskalaVesa Tapani Toskala is a professional ice hockey goaltender, currently playing for Ilves.-Early career:Toskala was selected by San Jose in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft . The Sharks also took fellow Finn Miikka Kiprusoff in the fifth round...
and forward Jason Blake. Three days later, he played his first game for the Maple Leafs and recorded a 30-save shutout against the
New Jersey DevilsThe New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. Giguère registered another shutout in his next game against the Ottawa Senators on February 6, 2010, to become the first goalie in franchise history to record shutouts in his first two games. This accomplishment led Giguère to be named the NHL's second star of the week on February 8. After having recorded a 3.14 GAA and .900 save percentage in 20 games with the Ducks before being traded, he improved to a 2.49 GAA and .916 save percentage in 15 games with the Leafs.
The following season, Giguère suffered a groin injury in mid-November 2010, sidelining him for three weeks. Upon his return, he played in several games before re-injuring his groin. During that time, the Leafs were in need of a goalie, forcing them to call up goalie James Reimer from the AHL. With Giguere sidelined, third-string goaltender James Reimer took over the starting position.
Colorado Avalanche (2011-present)
Giguère signed a two-year contract with the
Colorado AvalancheThe Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
on July 1, 2011.
Personal
Giguère and his wife Kristen have two sons: Maxime-Olivier, who was born during the Ducks Stanley Cup Championship run, and Luka. Giguère missed the team's last three regular season games as well as the first three games of the team's quarter-final series against the
Minnesota WildThe Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
when he learned that Maxime-Olivier had been born with a deformed eye.
Giguère's father died of cancer on December 15, 2008, and this greatly affected his performance for the rest of the season. Giguère went into the All Star game that year with a very weak record, with only one win in his last nine games.
Giguère suffers from a rare gastric condition that causes his body to take in too much air when he drinks fluids. As a result, his body has difficulty absorbing water, leading to severe dehydration when he sweats. This became the case when he was in the
AHLThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
during the 1997-98 season. During one game, he lost 19 pounds, became sick, and was rushed to the hospital. Team doctors in Calgary then discovered the condition.
Regular season
|
|
| Season In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
|
Team |
League |
GP |
W |
L |
T |
OTL |
MIN |
G In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to...
A |
SO |
GAA Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
|
SV% Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops...
|
| 1992–93 |
Laval |
QAAA |
25 |
12 |
11 |
2 |
— |
1498 |
76 |
0 |
3.04 |
— |
| 1993–94 The 1993–94 QMJHL season was the 25th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The QMJHL unveils a special logo/patch for its 25th anniversary. The league expands northward, granting an expansion franchise in Val-d'Or, Quebec. Thirteen teams played 72 games each in the schedule...
|
Verdun Collège Français Verdun Collège Français were a junior ice hockey team from Verdun, Quebec. They were members of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1991 to 1994. Collège Français resurrected the dormant Quebec Remparts franchise in 1985 after a three year hiatus, as Longueuil Collège Français...
|
QMJHL |
25 |
13 |
5 |
2 |
— |
1234 |
66 |
0 |
3.21 |
— |
| 1994–95 The 1994–95 QMJHL season was the 26th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The QMJHL unveils an updated logo one season after its special 25th anniversary logo, using a stylized ice skate and the letters of the league's French acronym...
|
Halifax Mooseheads The Halifax Mooseheads are a CHL ice hockey club in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The team was founded in 1994 and began play in the Dilio division of the QMJHL for the 1994-1995 season. While the franchise has never won a league championship, they have...
|
QMJHL |
47 |
14 |
27 |
5 |
— |
2755 |
181 |
2 |
3.94 |
— |
| 1995–96 The 1995–96 QMJHL season was the 27th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league continued to expand eastward, adding an expansion team in Moncton, New Brunswick, and the Saint-Jean Lynx relocated to the eastern Quebec city of Rimouski in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region...
|
Halifax Mooseheads |
QMJHL |
55 |
26 |
23 |
2 |
— |
3230 |
185 |
1 |
3.44 |
— |
| 1996–97 The 1996–97 QMJHL season was the 28th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league continues explore new markets as the Saint-Hyacinthe Laser move north to Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The New Faces Cup is renamed the RDS Cup, for its new sponsor, Réseau des sports. Fourteen...
|
Halifax Mooseheads |
QMJHL |
50 |
28 |
19 |
3 |
— |
3009 |
169 |
2 |
3.37 |
.902 |
| 1996–97 |
Hartford WhalersThe Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
|
NHL |
8 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
— |
394 |
24 |
0 |
3.65 |
.881 |
| 1997–98 The 1997–98 AHL season was the 62nd season of the American Hockey League. The AHL shifts teams in their divisions, and the Canadian division reverts to being named Atlantic division. The Northern conference is renamed the Eastern conference, and the Southern conference renamed the Western...
|
Saint John Flames The Saint John Flames were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League from 1993 to 2003 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. The Calgary Flames bought and relocated the Utica Devils, to be their AHL affiliate....
|
AHLThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
|
31 |
16 |
10 |
3 |
— |
1758 |
72 |
2 |
2.46 |
.926 |
| 1998–99 |
Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
|
NHL |
15 |
6 |
7 |
1 |
— |
860 |
46 |
0 |
3.21 |
.897 |
| 1998–99 The 1998–99 AHL season was the 63rd season of the American Hockey League. Nineteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Providence Bruins finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:...
|
Saint John Flames |
AHL |
39 |
18 |
16 |
3 |
— |
2145 |
123 |
3 |
3.44 |
.905 |
| 1999–00 The 1999–2000 AHL season was the 64th season of the American Hockey League. Nineteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hartford Wolf Pack finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:...
|
Saint John Flames |
AHL |
41 |
17 |
17 |
3 |
— |
2243 |
114 |
0 |
3.05 |
.897 |
| 1999–00 |
Calgary Flames |
NHL |
7 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
— |
330 |
15 |
0 |
2.73 |
.914 |
| 2000–01 The 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty...
|
Cincinnati Mighty DucksThe Cincinnati Mighty Ducks were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, at the Cincinnati Gardens.-History:...
|
AHL |
23 |
12 |
7 |
2 |
— |
1306 |
53 |
0 |
2.43 |
.917 |
| 2000–01 |
Mighty Ducks of AnaheimThe Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
|
NHL |
34 |
11 |
17 |
5 |
— |
2031 |
87 |
4 |
2.57 |
.911 |
| 2001–02 |
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
NHL |
53 |
20 |
25 |
6 |
— |
3127 |
111 |
4 |
2.13 |
.920 |
| 2002–03 |
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
NHL |
65 |
34 |
22 |
6 |
— |
3775 |
145 |
8 |
2.30 |
.920 |
| 2003–04 |
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
NHL |
55 |
17 |
31 |
6 |
— |
3210 |
140 |
3 |
2.62 |
.914 |
| 2004–05 |
Hamburg Freezers The Hamburg Freezers are a member of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga that play their games in Hamburg, Germany. Originally known as the Munich Barons from 1999 until 2002, team owner Philip Anschutz relocated the franchise to Hamburg for financial reasons on 3 June 2002, and renamed the team the...
|
DEL |
6 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
302 |
12 |
0 |
2.38 |
.925 |
| 2005–06 |
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
NHL |
60 |
30 |
15 |
— |
11 |
3381 |
150 |
2 |
2.66 |
.911 |
| 2006–07 |
Anaheim Ducks |
NHL |
56 |
36 |
10 |
— |
8 |
3244 |
122 |
4 |
2.26 |
.918 |
| 2007–08 |
Anaheim Ducks |
NHL |
58 |
35 |
17 |
— |
6 |
3310 |
117 |
4 |
2.12 |
.922 |
2008–09The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
|
Anaheim Ducks |
NHL |
46 |
19 |
18 |
— |
6 |
2458 |
127 |
2 |
3.10 |
.900 |
2009–10The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
|
Anaheim Ducks |
NHL |
20 |
4 |
8 |
— |
5 |
1108 |
58 |
1 |
3.14 |
.900 |
| 2009–10 |
Toronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
|
NHL |
15 |
6 |
7 |
— |
2 |
915 |
38 |
2 |
2.49 |
.916 |
| 2010–11 The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech...
|
Toronto Maple Leafs |
NHL |
33 |
11 |
11 |
— |
4 |
1633 |
78 |
0 |
2.87 |
.900 |
| NHL totals |
525 |
231 |
195 |
25 |
42 |
29,777 |
1258 |
34 |
2.53 |
.913 |
| AHL totals |
134 |
63 |
50 |
11 |
— |
7452 |
362 |
5 |
2.70 |
— |
| QMJHL totals |
177 |
81 |
74 |
12 |
— |
10228 |
601 |
5 |
3.39 |
— |
Playoffs
|
|
| Season |
Team |
League |
GP |
W |
L |
MIN |
GA |
SO |
GAA |
SV% |
| 1992–93 |
Laval |
QAAA |
11 |
6 |
5 |
654 |
38 |
0 |
3.49 |
— |
| 1994–95 |
Halifax Mooseheads |
QMJHL |
7 |
3 |
4 |
417 |
17 |
1 |
2.45 |
— |
| 1995–96 |
Halifax Mooseheads |
QMJHL |
6 |
1 |
5 |
354 |
24 |
0 |
4.07 |
— |
| 1996–97 |
Halifax Mooseheads |
QMJHL |
16 |
9 |
7 |
954 |
58 |
0 |
3.65 |
— |
| 1997–98 |
Saint John Flames |
AHL |
10 |
5 |
3 |
536 |
27 |
0 |
3.02 |
— |
| 1998–99 |
Saint John Flames |
AHL |
7 |
3 |
2 |
304 |
21 |
0 |
4.14 |
.859 |
| 1999–00 |
Saint John Flames |
AHL |
3 |
0 |
3 |
178 |
9 |
0 |
3.03 |
.880 |
| 2002–03 |
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
NHL |
21 |
15 |
6 |
1407 |
38 |
5 |
1.62 |
.945 |
| 2004–05 |
Hamburg Freezers |
DEL |
2 |
— |
— |
100 |
7 |
— |
4.20 |
— |
| 2005–06 |
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
NHL |
6 |
3 |
3 |
318 |
18 |
0 |
3.40 |
.864 |
| 2006–07 |
Anaheim Ducks |
NHL |
18 |
13 |
4 |
1067 |
35 |
1 |
1.97 |
.922 |
| 2007–08 |
Anaheim Ducks |
NHL |
6 |
2 |
4 |
358 |
19 |
0 |
3.18 |
.898 |
| 2008–09 |
Anaheim Ducks |
NHL |
1 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
1.00 |
| NHL totals |
52 |
33 |
17 |
3167 |
110 |
6 |
2.08 |
.925 |
Awards and achievements
- 1997
The 1996–97 QMJHL season was the 28th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league continues explore new markets as the Saint-Hyacinthe Laser move north to Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The New Faces Cup is renamed the RDS Cup, for its new sponsor, Réseau des sports. Fourteen...
QMJHL Second All-Star Team
- 1998
The 1997–98 AHL season was the 62nd season of the American Hockey League. The AHL shifts teams in their divisions, and the Canadian division reverts to being named Atlantic division. The Northern conference is renamed the Eastern conference, and the Southern conference renamed the Western...
Hap Holmes Memorial AwardThe Hap Holmes Memorial Award is an ice hockey trophy awarded annually to the goaltenders of the American Hockey League team with the lowest goals against average, and who have appeared in at least 25 regular season games....
(AHLThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
) - shared with Tyler MossTyler Moss is a professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing for the Hannover Scorpions in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga...
as the goalies with 25+ GP for the team with the lowest GAA
- 2003
The 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs, the National Hockey League championship, began on April 9, 2003, following the 2002–03 regular season. The playoffs concluded on June 9, 2003, with the New Jersey Devils defeating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games.The sixteen qualifying teams played...
Conn Smythe Trophy MVPThe Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
(played on losing team: finals)
- 2003 Best NHL Player ESPY Award
The Best NHL Player ESPY Award has been presented annually since 1993 to the National Hockey League player, irrespective of nationality, adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year, typically most significantly in the NHL season contested during or immediately prior to the holding of the ESPY...
- 2007
The 2007 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2006–07 season. As a culmination of the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Western Conference champion Anaheim Ducks defeated the Eastern Conference champion Ottawa Senators in...
Stanley Cup ChampionshipThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
- 2009 NHL All-Star Game Montreal, Canada: Western Conference
Transactions
- July 8, 1995 - Drafted by the Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
in the 1st round, 13th overall.
- June 25, 1997 - Rights transferred to the Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
when the Hartford Whalers relocated.
- August 27, 1997 - Traded to the Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
with Andrew CasselsAndrew Cassels is a retired professional ice hockey centre who played sixteen seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals...
for Gary Roberts and Trevor KiddTrevor Kidd is a former NHL goaltender who last played for the Hannover Scorpions in Germany. Throughout his 12-year National Hockey League career, Kidd played for the Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs...
.
- June 10, 2001 - Traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
for a 2nd round pick in 2000The 2000 NHL Entry Draft was held from June 24 to 25 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, following the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft on June 23 for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild...
(Matt PettingerMatthew Pettinger is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who is currently playing for Kölner Haie of the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga . He has previously played in the National Hockey League with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks and the Washington Capitals...
).
- June 21, 2007 - Signed a 4 year $24 million contract with the Anaheim Ducks.
- January 31, 2010 - Traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in exchange for Vesa ToskalaVesa Tapani Toskala is a professional ice hockey goaltender, currently playing for Ilves.-Early career:Toskala was selected by San Jose in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft . The Sharks also took fellow Finn Miikka Kiprusoff in the fifth round...
and Jason Blake.
External links