Manny Legace Still Fighting For Respect
by Bob Wage on Mar 10, 2010 10:30 AM EST
24 comments
Carolina Hurricanes goalie Manny Legace has faced a fair share of adversity in his career. After being drafted by the Hartford Whalers in the eighth round of the 1993 Entry Draft, the franchise apparently gave up on him and traded the young goalie to the Los Angeles Kings in 1998 for a conditional draft pick.
The Kings let him go shortly after that and he was eventually signed as a free agent by Detroit in 1999, but they put him on waivers early that season. The Red Wings had not completely given up on him though and claimed him back off the waiver wire a bit later. He stayed with the Wings for several years after that.
Playing the role of backup is nothing new to the veteran. While he was in Detroit, he served as understudy to the likes of Chris Osgood, Dominik Hasek, and Curtis Joseph. Not only was he a suitable backup, he stepped up and played a major role when one or more of the star goalies went down to injury.
In the 2000-01 season, he had a 24-5-5 record. In 2005-06, when Joseph and Hasek both fell to injuries, (and each had respective salaries of $8 million and $10 million), Legace held the fort with a 37-8-3 record at a fraction of the cost. Unfortunately for the goalie, when the Oilers eliminated the Wings in the first round of the playoffs that postseason, Legace got the brunt of the blame and was released that summer.
The St. Louis Blues signed the goalie that offseason and Legace played well enough to earn an All Star bid in 2008. Still, the netminder has not received much recognition. After three years with St. Louis, he was not offered another contract and was looking for work last summer. He was eventually given a tryout during the preseason by Atlanta, but was released before the season started.
The Canes picked him up from the Thrashers' AHL affiliate in Chicago back in November when Cam Ward was injured with a lacerated leg.
"I've been under-appreciated my whole career, but that's helped me to keep my head small, " Legace joked one day after practice. "But I made it to an All Star game and I've had some good years."
I asked the goalie how he was able to keep mentally prepared as a backup.
"I have been very fortunate to play with some real professionals, guys like Chris Chelios and Nicklas Lidstrom. You spend some time with guys like that and you learn what focus is all about."
Legace has not exactly had an easy stay in Carolina and had to compete with Michael Leighton in order to keep the backup job when Ward returned to action. But the veteran out-played Leighton, forcing the Hurricanes to put their previous second string goalie on waivers.
Now that Ward is out again, this time with a back problem, Legace has done more than his part to hold the fort. He has a 5-0-0 record with a save percentage of .941, a GAA of 1.59, and has the team's only shutout of the season.
But despite all of this success, Legace will probably be back to square one when the season is over and will be looking for a new contract from another NHL team. The emergence of Justin Peters means that the youngster will probably be Cam Ward's understudy next season.
Still, don't count out Manny Legace. He's been a fighter and a scrambler his entire career and he is making a good case for himself to get an NHL contract again next season, even if it is not with the Hurricanes.
He will have his hands full tonight in the Nation's Capital, but the Caps would do well not to under-estimate him.
Although, that's just the way the goalie likes it.
_____
(We will have the game preview up at about 2 this afternoon.)
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Awesome piece Bob. I love cheering for the underdog and I hope Manny finds himself in a starting position next year. There’s a lot of fight left in him!
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
by caniacgirl on Mar 10, 2010 10:37 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Yeah I really like the guy too. His first interview postgame on FSN was really neat. He was so humble, happy to just help out, and was cracking jokes. Seems like a great guy and has stepped up big already in several games
I loved him when he was in St. Louis. Him being mic’ed up for the ASG pretty much sealed it for me-one of the funniest guys in the league. I really gravitate towards the players who don’t take themselves or the game too seriously; the ones who look like they’re enjoying life are my favorites to watch. Plus, for some reason, he reminds me of Jeff Lerg from Michigan State who I also adore.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
by caniacgirl on Mar 10, 2010 12:29 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Agreed – I’m all about the comedy. I never get tired of Whitney staking out his spot behind Trip’s pre-game interview. By the way LaRose was on Canes Corner Monday. I caught a few minutes, very funny
I’m hoping they put it up online. 99.9’s live streaming doesn’t work for me so I missed it and his Canes Corner was one I was really looking forward to.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
by caniacgirl on Mar 10, 2010 12:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Have they put up the past episodes at all? If not, they should. Spending an hour talking with one player really is a great opportunity to talk not only hockey but to get to know the player, and sort of let him shine
They have put up some of the later ones.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
by caniacgirl on Mar 10, 2010 12:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
LaRose needs some sort of TV ad spokesman deal. Serious potential to sell something great. Ruu too. (pun intended)
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by hockeymomof2 on Mar 10, 2010 12:40 PM EST up reply actions
I love they mic’ing of players at the ASG. Do any of yall remember Turco being Mic’d? He was very funny. My favorite mic’d all star though was JR a few years before he retired.
by CarolinaCanes on Mar 10, 2010 3:49 PM EST up reply actions
In fact, I can see him getting some sort of honorary Finn status the way he’s been playing of late: hardworking, clutch, great attitude.
LTD, your thoughts? How’s this sound? Maanni Legatuu
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
Works for me, HM. Great respect for and from his teammates. It was pretty obvious in the ease with which he showed up for practice an hour after he was signed that he’d be a good fit here. And I loved his reply the other night in the post-game interview when he was asked how he kept himself from getting rusty during the long layoff between games and he said, “It’s my job. It’s what I get paid to do.” Kind of guy I like having on my team. Do your job and work hard and help and appreciate your teammates. Dude has sisu.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
Like I mentioned the other day, I think the acquisition of Pogge sealed Manny’s fate. Unless they have plans to trade/not re-sign Pogge and/or Peters. But I don’t see that happening. Too bad, b/c Manny’s been playing well. Hopefully he lands somewhere next season.
by Cory Lavalette on Mar 10, 2010 10:58 AM EST reply actions
I thought he got a raw deal in Detroit and in St. Louis. He got run out of St. Louis on a rail mid season. My friends that know him says he’s a good guy and a good teammate. Hopefully he has secured an NHL job for next season.
by DoctorMyBrainHurts on Mar 10, 2010 12:15 PM EST reply actions
He had a breakdown in St.L
Of the mental variety. He just stopped playing well and Mason stepped his game up to a higher level, really had no choice but to send him to thepeoria. Glad to see hes doing well.
He raged at the world, at his family, at his life. But mostly he just raged.
I remember him in the All-Star game in 2008
He was mic’d up and he was very fun to listen to then. I will miss Manny after this season, as he’s a great all around guy. Hope another team sees fit to pick him up and use him, as he’s still a great goalie. :)
Thank you Jim Rutherford and Ray Whitney for working together for Ray to stay a Hurricane! :)
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