Random Goalie News Across the NHL

I haven't had a chance to keep up with some of the goalie news lately. But I do know these bits:

Chris Osgood retired.

Patrick Lalime retired.

Ty Conklin signed with the Detroit Red Wings.

Anyone know what else I'm missing?

Tomas Halasz's HC Kosice Mask (Bart and Homer)

I was looking at photos over at painter David Gunnarsson's website, and I found this really fun mask. It belongs to Tomas Halasz, who is a 21-year-old Slovakian goalie playing for HC Kosice in the Slovak Extraliga.

The story
David about the design:

"Always much fun to paint speedy designs with a portion of humor... Here father and son are playing hockey, but when the son raises his stick to take a big shot, the father (and goalie) doesn’t want to be in anymore and runs away! His old school custom mask flies it’s way... The entire design is created with enormous detail work and much 3-D effects, just the way I like it."

Steve Mason 2011-12 Mask

Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets (born May 29, 1988 in Oakville, ON.)

Artist: David Gunnarsson

In March Mason debuted a new mask featuring zombies. Here's what Dave had to say about it:
"Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets told me he wanted something really, really scary, created in a new way... At that time I was watching a zombie movie when I painted, yes, I always watch movies when I paint... :-)

Zombies are so scary and creepy, so I came up with a very scary design theme with zombies, but in a new style, mixed with American theme and also Blue Jackets colors and graphics."

Here was the first mask Mason used this season:
http://www.daveart.com/mask-gallery/set/72157627725332568/default.aspx

From the artist: This time Steve wanted something really scary to show the horror of war. But scary in a new way, not just attacking monsters... I love to think outside the box. I see myself as much a storyteller as a painter. My idea was to create a scary feeling all over the mask and I came up with this calm theme, calm in a scary and disturbing way. Just silent and scary, a new kind.

So on the left side an artwork with the theme of horror of war. Scary civil war skull soldiers give the design it's name ”SkullSoldiers”. As you can see I'm also inspired by horror movies and scary cartoons, and this is also a tribute to that.

The other side is a logo themed design, looks sharp from a distance, and when you come close you discover a new dimension of details. The side is painted like it is stitched, in a scary way. When you come even closer you will see that all areas are painted with dramatic lines to add even more scary and disturbing feelings.

From The Goalie Guild

Mason started wearing new pads near the end of October.

Mason's 3rd jersey mask and pads.

Mason debuted another set of pads in late December.

Jose Theodore as a Florida Panther

Well, there weren't any photos of just José today. Since the Panthers singed 11 new players this free agency period, they had them all together for a press conference. 9 of the 11 were there. So here's the group photo.

Here's the post showing José's new Panthers' mask.

Semyon Varlamov at His First Press Conference in Colorado

I'll try to post photos of the goalies when meeting with their new teams. Today here was Semyon Varlamov meeting with the Avalanche and media.

2011 Free Agency Goalie Signings

Well, I'd say most of the goalie signings have happened by now, so I'll go ahead and post the list.

Anton Khudobin re-signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Boston Bruins to a two-year contract.

Brian Boucher signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Carolina Hurricanes to a two-year contract.

Jean-Sebastian Giguere signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Colorado Avalanche to a two-year contract.

Semyon Varlamov was acquired by the Colorado Avalanche from the Washington Capitals for a first-round draft pick in 2012 and a conditional second-round draft pick. Re-signed as a restricted free agent by the Colorado Avalanche to a three-year contract.


Mark Dekanich signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Columbus Blue Jackets to a one-year contract.

Curtis Sanford signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Columbus Blue Jackets to a one-year contract.

José Theodore signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Florida Panthers to a two-year contract.

Josh Harding re-signed by the Minnesota Wild to a one-year contract.

Peter Budaj  signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Montreal Canadiens to a two-year contract.

Johan Hedberg re-signed as an unrestricted free agent by the New Jersey Devils to a one-year contract.

Alex Auld signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Ottawa Senators to a one-year contract.

Mike Smith signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Phoenix Coyotes to a two-year contract.
 
Brian Elliott signed as an unrestricted free agent by the St. Louis Blues to a two-year contract.
 
Mathieu Garon signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Tampa Bay Lightning to a two-year contract.
 
Ben Scrivens re-signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs to a one-year contract.
 
Tomas Vokoun signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Washington Capitals to a one-year contract.

Free Agency Frenzy!

July 1st means one thing to me...NHL free agency begins. It's been a busy one so far for goalies.

The one most important to me is that José Theodore signed a 2-year, $3 million deal with the Florida Panthers.

Vokoun didn't come to terms with Florida and moved into the free agency market.

Semyon Varlamov signed with Colorado.

Brian Boucher signed with Carolina.

Mike Smith signed with Phoenix.

Mathieu Garon signed with Tampa Bay.

Curtis Sanford signed a one year deal with Columbus.

Brian Elliot signed a one year deal with St. Louis.

I'll update with more details and more signings later.