Chicago Blackhawk goalie Cristobal Huet, from France, looks on during the first period of a preseason NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild in Chicago on Friday, Sept. 25, 2009.Charles Cherney/The Associated Press
French goaltender Cristobal Huet inked a four-year deal with Swiss club Laussane on Saturday and will not return to the National Hockey League this season.
Huet, who played eight seasons in the NHL with Los Angeles, Montreal, Washington and Chicago, has been on loan from Laussane to HC Fribourg-Gotteron.
Huet had started the 2009-2010 season as the Blackhawks No. 1 goaltender but following their Stanley Cup win, the club released him in order to free up salary camp room.
Huet indicated his intention to wait for an NHL netminders' job earlier this summer and hoping to land a job as a backup goaltender, but the market remains frozen as NHL labour negotiations continue.
Huet posted a 129-90-32 record in 272 NHL games with a .913 save percentage.
Globe Staff