Cristobal Huet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cristobal Huet |
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Huet with the Chicago Blackhawks in November 2009
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| Born | September 3, 1975 Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France |
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| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | Brûleurs de Loups HC Lugano Los Angeles Kings Adler Mannheim Montreal Canadiens Washington Capitals Chicago Blackhawks HC Fribourg-Gottéron Lausanne HC |
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| National team |  France |
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| NHL Draft | 214th overall, 2001 Los Angeles Kings |
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| Playing career | 1994–2018 | ||
Cristobal Huet (born September 3, 1975) is a French former professional ice hockey goaltender. He is now a coach for goalies at Lausanne HC in Switzerland.
Huet played for many teams, including HC Lugano and HC Fribourg-Gottéron. He also played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals. He was the first French goalie and second French player ever to play in the NHL.
Cristobal Huet made history by winning the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010. He was the first French player to win this important trophy. In 2023, he was honored by being added to the IIHF Hall of Fame.
Contents
- Playing Career Highlights
- Early Years in Hockey
- Playing for HC Lugano
- Time with the Los Angeles Kings
- Becoming a Star with the Montreal Canadiens
- Short Time with the Washington Capitals
- Winning the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks
- Playing in Switzerland Again
- Final Years with Lausanne HC
- Retiring from the French National Team
- Career Statistics
- Awards and Achievements
Playing Career Highlights
Early Years in Hockey
When he was young, Huet played in the 1988 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. This is a big tournament for young hockey players.
Playing for HC Lugano
Huet played for HC Lugano in Switzerland from 1998 to 2002. In his first year, his team won the National League A Championship. The next year, they made it to the final four of the European Hockey League.
Time with the Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings picked Huet in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 214th player chosen overall. He played for the Kings during the 2002–2003 and 2003–2004 seasons. Later, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. During the 2004–2005 NHL lockout, Huet played in Germany for Adler Mannheim. He helped his team reach the finals.
Becoming a Star with the Montreal Canadiens
During the 2005–2006 season, Huet became the main goalie for the Montreal Canadiens. He won several awards for his great play. He was named the NHL Best Defensive Player twice in March and April 2006.
In his first Stanley Cup playoffs game, Huet played amazingly. He stopped 42 shots in a 6–1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canadiens won the first two games of the series. However, they lost the next four games and were knocked out of the playoffs.
The Canadiens signed Huet for two more years in 2006. In January 2007, he was chosen for the 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game. But a hamstring injury made him miss the end of that season.
Short Time with the Washington Capitals
In February 2008, Huet was traded to the Washington Capitals. He became their starting goalie and helped them make it to the playoffs. They lost in the first round to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Winning the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks
On July 1, 2008, Huet signed a four-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. He shared the goalie job with Nikolai Khabibulin at first. Huet played well and was named the NHL's 3rd star of the week in February 2009.
In the 2009 playoffs, Huet stepped in when Khabibulin was injured. He played in some important games during the Western Conference Finals.
For the 2009–2010 season, Huet started as the main goalie. However, Antti Niemi eventually took over as the starter for the playoffs. The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup that year. Huet played a small part in the playoffs, but his name was still engraved on the Stanley Cup. This made him the first person from France to win the Stanley Cup.
Playing in Switzerland Again
In 2010, Huet was loaned to HC Fribourg-Gottéron in Switzerland. He played there for two seasons. In his second year, he had a great goals against average (GAA) of 1.99, which was one of the best in the league.
Final Years with Lausanne HC
In 2012, Huet signed a four-year deal with Lausanne HC. In his first season, the team won the National League B title. They then moved up to the top Swiss league, the National League.
Retiring from the French National Team
In May 2017, Huet played for France in the 2017 IIHF World Championship in Paris. He played his last game for France against Slovenia, which they won. He retired from the French national team with a standing ovation.
Career Statistics
Cristobal Huet played many games throughout his career. Here are his statistics for regular seasons and playoffs.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 1994–95 | Brûleurs de Loups | FRA | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Brûleurs de Loups | FRA | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Brûleurs de Loups | FRA | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Brûleurs de Loups | FRA | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | HC Lugano | NDA | 21 | — | — | — | — | 1275 | 58 | 1 | 2.73 | — | 10 | — | — | 628 | 18 | 1 | 1.72 | — | ||
| 1999–00 | HC Lugano | NLA | 31 | — | — | — | — | 1886 | 50 | 8 | 1.59 | — | 13 | — | — | 783 | 29 | 0 | 2.22 | — | ||
| 2000–01 | HC Lugano | NLA | 39 | — | — | — | — | 2365 | 77 | 6 | 1.95 | — | 18 | — | — | 1141 | 39 | 2 | 2.05 | — | ||
| 2001–02 | HC Lugano | NLA | 39 | — | — | — | — | 2313 | 107 | 4 | 2.78 | — | 1 | — | — | 60 | 3 | 0 | 3.00 | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Manchester Monarchs | AHL | 30 | 16 | 8 | 5 | — | 1784 | 68 | 1 | 2.29 | .922 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 8.08 | .778 | ||
| 2002–03 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 12 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | 541 | 21 | 1 | 2.33 | .913 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 41 | 10 | 16 | 10 | — | 2199 | 89 | 3 | 2.43 | .907 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Adler Mannheim | DEL | 36 | — | — | — | — | 2001 | 93 | 1 | 2.79 | .915 | 14 | — | — | 850 | 40 | 2 | 2.82 | .919 | ||
| 2005–06 | Hamilton Bulldogs | AHL | 4 | 0 | 4 | — | 0 | 237 | 15 | 0 | 3.79 | .862 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 36 | 18 | 11 | — | 4 | 2102 | 77 | 7 | 2.20 | .929 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 385 | 15 | 0 | 2.33 | .929 | ||
| 2006–07 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 42 | 19 | 16 | — | 3 | 2286 | 107 | 2 | 2.81 | .916 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 39 | 21 | 12 | — | 6 | 2278 | 97 | 2 | 2.55 | .916 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 13 | 11 | 2 | — | 0 | 771 | 21 | 2 | 1.63 | .936 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 451 | 22 | 0 | 2.90 | .909 | ||
| 2008–09 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 41 | 20 | 15 | — | 4 | 2351 | 99 | 3 | 2.53 | .909 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 130 | 7 | 0 | 3.23 | .910 | ||
| 2009–10 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 48 | 26 | 14 | — | 4 | 2731 | 114 | 4 | 2.50 | .895 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.000 | ||
| 2010–11 | HC Fribourg–Gottéron | NLA | 41 | 12 | 21 | — | 1 | 2461 | 120 | 4 | 2.92 | .888 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 155 | 11 | 0 | 4.24 | .810 | ||
| 2011–12 | HC Fribourg–Gottéron | NLA | 39 | 23 | 10 | — | 0 | 2322 | 83 | 6 | 2.14 | .912 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 694 | 28 | 1 | 2.42 | .910 | ||
| 2012–13 | Lausanne HC | NLB | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2.33 | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.67 | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Lausanne HC | NLA | 45 | 19 | 20 | — | 2 | 2649 | 91 | 1 | 2.06 | .929 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 407 | 16 | 0 | 2.36 | .922 | ||
| 2014–15 | Lausanne HC | NLA | 37 | 16 | 13 | — | 0 | 2158 | 67 | 7 | 1.86 | .931 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 447 | 11 | 0 | 1.48 | .941 | ||
| 2015–16 | Lausanne HC | NLA | 46 | 17 | 22 | — | 2 | 2768 | 112 | 1 | 2.43 | .910 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Lausanne HC | NLA | 40 | 23 | 15 | — | 0 | 2404 | 99 | 7 | 2.47 | .919 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 261 | 13 | 0 | 2.98 | .908 | ||
| 2017–18 | Lausanne HC | NL | 21 | 7 | 12 | — | 4 | 1104 | 64 | 1 | 3.48 | .886 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NDA/NLA/NL totals | 399 | — | — | — | — | 23,705 | 928 | 46 | 2.35 | — | 74 | — | — | 4576 | 168 | 4 | 2.20 | — | ||||
| NHL totals | 272 | 129 | 90 | 11 | 21 | 15,261 | 625 | 24 | 2.46 | .913 | 17 | 6 | 10 | 987 | 44 | 0 | 2.68 | .918 | ||||
International Play Statistics
Cristobal Huet also played for the French national team in many international tournaments.
| Year | Team | Event | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | France | EJC B | 3 | 1.62 | .929 | |||||||
| 1993 | France | EJC B | 6 | 2.29 | ||||||||
| 1995 | France | WJC B | 7 | 2.14 | .899 | |||||||
| 1997 | France | WC | 3 | 101 | 12 | 0 | 7.13 | .793 | ||||
| 1998 | France | OG | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 120 | 5 | 0 | 2.50 | .925 | |
| 1998 | France | WC | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 36.00 | .400 | ||||
| 1998 | France | WC Q | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 180 | 7 | 0 | 2.33 | ||
| 1999 | France | WC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 6 | 0 | 6.00 | .714 | |
| 1999 | France | WC Q | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 180 | 10 | 0 | 3.33 | .897 | |
| 2000 | France | WC | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 239 | 11 | 0 | 2.76 | .892 | |
| 2001 | France | OGQ | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 179 | 5 | 0 | 1.68 | .952 | |
| 2001 | France | WC D1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 240 | 9 | 1 | 2.25 | .886 | |
| 2002 | France | OG | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 179 | 10 | 0 | 3.36 | .884 | |
| 2002 | France | WC D1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 299 | 5 | 2 | 1.00 | .938 | |
| 2004 | France | WC | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 198 | 17 | 0 | 5.19 | .851 | |
| 2005 | France | OGQ | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 299 | 5 | 2 | 1.00 | .957 | |
| 2008 | France | WC | 5 | 2 | 3 | — | 250 | 15 | 0 | 3.60 | .911 | |
| 2011 | France | WC | 6 | 1 | 5 | — | 282 | 16 | 0 | 3.41 | .913 | |
| 2012 | France | WC | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | 299 | 18 | 0 | 3.61 | .882 | |
| 2013 | France | OGQ | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 122 | 5 | 0 | 2.44 | .909 | |
| 2013 | France | WC | 5 | 1 | 4 | — | 266 | 16 | 0 | 3.36 | .902 | |
| 2014 | France | WC | 6 | 2 | 2 | — | 369 | 16 | 0 | 2.60 | .902 | |
| 2015 | France | WC | 5 | 1 | 3 | — | 288 | 10 | 1 | 2.09 | .923 | |
| 2016 | France | WC | 5 | 1 | 3 | — | 276 | 14 | 0 | 3.05 | .884 | |
| 2017 | France | OGQ | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 179 | 4 | 0 | 1.33 | .944 | |
| 2017 | France | WC | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | 249 | 10 | 0 | 2.41 | .899 | |
| Tier I senior totals | 59 | — | — | — | 3181 | 179 | 1 | 3.38 | — | |||
| Tier II senior totals | 28 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 1678 | 50 | 5 | 1.79 | — | |||
Awards and Achievements
Cristobal Huet earned many awards and honors during his hockey career:
- French Elite League Champion with the Brûleurs de loups of Grenoble, 1997–1998
- Albert Hassler Trophy (Best French Player in the French Elite League), 1997–1998
- Jean Ferrand Trophy (Best Goaltender in the French Elite League), 1996–1997 and 1997–1998
- Swiss National A League Champion with HC Lugano, 1998–1999
- European Hockey League Final Four with HC Lugano, 1999–2000
- Jacques Plante Trophy (Best Goals Against Average in the Swiss National A League), 1999–2000 and 2000–2001
- Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award (Best Save Percentage in the NHL), 2005–2006
- Nominated for Bill Masterton Trophy (Award for perseverance and dedication), 2005–2006
- NHL Defensive Player of the Week, March 3–5, 2006
- NHL All-Star Team roster, 2007
- Nominated for NHL All-Star team, 2008
- NHL 3rd star for January 2008
- NHL 3rd star of the week, February 15–21, 2009
- NHL 1st star of the week, December 14–21, 2009
- NHL 2010 Stanley Cup Champion (Season 2009–2010)
- Inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2023
