Trevor Kidd, whose goaltending career has faded since he dislocated a shoulder during a skills competition in 1999, is getting another chance.
He signed a two-year contract yesterday with the Toronto Maple Leafs as Ed Belfour's backup. Neither the team nor agent Herb Pinder would disclose salary figures, but it was reported that Kidd will be paid $1.3-million (all figures U.S.) a year, with the Panthers' buyout accounting for roughly one-half of the amount for each year.
Kidd, 30, earned $2.3-million last season with the Florida Panthers, who arranged a buyout with Pinder to allow Kidd out of the remaining year of his contract, clear waivers, become a free agent and sign with the Leafs.
With Roberto Luongo, 23, as their No. 1 netminder, the Panthers were unwilling to pay so much for a backup for another year -- especially one who was 4-16-5 and had a 3.21 goals-against average in 33 appearances last season.
Kidd wanted out, too. He was rusting on the Panthers' bench, and that situation would have worsened next season with Luongo getting more and more ice time from coach Mike Keenan.
"Mike's history is that he relies heavily on his No. 1 guy," Kidd said in a telephone conference call organized by the Leafs. "That means 60 or 70 games [for Luongo]next season."
Kidd will get more of an opportunity to stop pucks with the Leafs because Belfour is 37. He said he anticipates 20, 25 or maybe 30 games.
"This situation is a good fit for me," he said.
Kidd, who played for the Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes before joining the Panthers, appeared to be reviving his career in his first season with Florida. He was leading the NHL in save percentage, .930, until an incident occurred on Dec. 13, 1999. Kidd dislocated his shoulder when he grabbed Peter Worrell's stick and Worrell yanked it out of his grasp during a team skills competition. Since the accident, he's had only 15 wins in 83 games.
With the Leafs, there will be a "big reduction in what he's being paid, but he gets a second year and he gets a buyout from Florida," Pinder said.
Bonus clauses will reward Kidd for games played beyond a certain number.
He said he's eager to meet Belfour.
"We're born and raised in the same province [Manitoba] but that's about it," Kidd said. "I don't know him personally at all.
"I'm looking forward to working with him."
For the past year, while discouraged in Florida, Kidd has worked diligently at the technical aspects of his craft.
He's optimistic he's improved and can help the Leafs, and that after Belfour's two-year deal expires, he'll be capable of challenging for the No. 1 position.
"He's got a chance to evolve into the No. 1 goaltender, and there's no chance of that in Florida," Pinder said.
The Leafs were attracted by the game-saving capabilities of 6-foot-2 Kidd.
Also, he's been a No. 1 in the past and has the ability to take over should Belfour falter or be injured.
Kidd has frustrated some coaches by occasionally giving up bad goals, but Leafs general manager and coach Pat Quinn was eager to grab him to fill a vacant position.
"He's an excellent goalie, and even at 30, has lots of playing time left," Quinn said.
Kidd's wife, Tiffany, also from Manitoba, is being treated for a type of cancer, non-Hodgkins lymphoma.