It would seem that Florida Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun is absolutely out of the running for the other goaltending vacancy with the Colorado Avalanche. The team has not only signed Semyon Varlamov, but they have also signed former Toronto Maple Leafs backup Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere

Jean Sebastien Giguere | Courtesy of Mark Avery, AP

According to Renaud P Lavoie from RDS Hockey, Giguere will be the next goalie to don the Avalanche crest. Giguere went 11-11-4 last season in Toronto across 33 games played. He posted a 2.87 goals against average and a .900 save percentage, allowing 78 goals on 777 shots. These numbers are largely on par for his career, which sits with a pretty 2.53 gaa and a .913 save percentage.

Giguere managed to not only win the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 but he also won the Conn Smythe Trophy for the league’s most valuable player in 2007. He owns a career goals against average of .925 and a save percentage of 2.08 in the playoffs and will likely challenge Varlamov for a starting role.

Colorado is unaccustomed to goaltenders battling it out for a starting position but word is that Varlamov was seeking a guaranteed number one position with a new team. Regardless, Giguere will provide valuable experience to all netminders in the Colorado system and, at age 34, could revive his career given the right opportunity in Denver – just look at Tim Thomas as of late.

There is no word on whether the Avs plan on bringing in a full time goalie coach to manage their keepers this season. Many argued the failure of all goalies in Colorado last season could be linked, in part, to the lack of a reliable goaltending coaching staff.

The Colorado Avalanche officially confirmed Giguere would be in Denver for two years.

“Giguere is a veteran netminder who will complete our goaltending tandem,” said Avalanche General Manager/Executive Vice President Greg Sherman.  “He is a proven winner and his addition will be beneficial to our entire team.”

What do you think? Do you feel better about goaltending in Colorado?

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