Yahoo Sports Jose Theodore Says Capitals Were His Best Shot At A Stanley Cup, But He Has One Regret: 'Bruce Boudreau Pulled Me Too Early' In Playoffs
When Jose Theodore signed a two-year contract with the Washington Capitals in 2008, he expected he would finally win a Stanley Cup.
The team was loaded with talent, from Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom to Mike Green and more on the backend. And with Theodore, Washington had two strong years, clinching the Southeast Division and then winning the Presidents' Trophy.
"I was like, 'If I want to win the Cup, I think Washington is a team we have a chance to win,'" Theodore told The Hockey News in the latest episode of That's DC Hockey.
"The fans would be crazy, rock the red, the fans were great. The fans in DC were some of the best fans, even playing there I had a great time, winning most of the time. I wish I could've stayed there a little bit longer."
The only regret for Theodore, who was a veteran at the time, is that he didn't get the opportunity he thought he would in the postseason, and that the team didn't make it very far in either run.
Washington was eliminated in seven games in the second round against the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, and the following season, despite being projected to win the Cup after a record-breaking year, fell in seven games to the eighth-seed Montreal Canadiens.
In both of those runs, Theodore was pulled each time: first, in the opening round of the 2009 postseason against the New York Rangers after allowing four goals in Game 1, and then in Game 2 of the 2010 playoffs against Montreal, when he gave up two goals on two shots. Semyon Varlamov replaced him in both instances.
"I still think to this day that Bruce Boudreau was very quick to pull me and leave me on the bench," Theodore, who admittedly didn't get along with the former Capitals bench boss, said. "I remember playing in Montreal, we were down against Boston 3-1 in the series, and we won Game 7."
Despite the strained relationship with Boudreau, Theodore doesn't regret his decision to come to the District.
"We were just missing a little bit. I don't regret my choice... I have some great numbers. I thought we had a chance there and I would have a chance, just didn't roll out for us," Theodore said, adding, "I would've liked to have more chance in the playoffs. Obviously, it's coach's decision, but I had probably two of my best years. We were winning most of the time, great teammates.
"It was really fun to play for the Capitals. I just feel like we had unfinished business in the playoffs."
Tune in to Theodore's full interview with Sammi Silber here at The Hockey News, and also on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
