"He's popular because of the way he's playing and he's got that charisma. It's in his blood. Outside of the game, he reminds me of Bobby Orr. (Orr) was nice to everybody. (Theodore) is patient with everybody. It comes naturally to him. He stays humble, too."

"The popularity of the native Montrealer is rocketing, fueled by his on-ice success, his disarming personality and his good looks. His face jumps out from the pages of the October issue of GQ magazine as he chomps on a puck with his pearly whites while sporting a $1,995 leather jacket by Prada Sport."

''He is the reason we're standing here with smiles on our face, really. He was unbelievable today. 'I mean, they could've ended it so many times - not only in overtime, but in the third. 'He kept us in and gave us a chance.''

''I told (everyone), Theo's going to come back with a huge game. And he did. He basically stole that game for us, especially in the overtime.''

"I just think it's been a really terrific story the way that he's rebounded, because that can be the end of a goaltender."

"When he had his struggles, and I think this is important, he really endeared himself with his hard work. He didn't ever pout, and he was a really great teammate."

"We were in awe, probably as much as the fans, to see a goalie have a night like that. We were very thankful, too.

"His emotions, his maturity . . . maybe he was always in control of his emotions, but I see him as being very level-headed. He's very calm, focused on his own job. Patrick was different. Patrick was very vocal and Jose is quiet. He gives off a controlled vibe, which is good for the rest of us. He's not rattled, which is a good way to lead. If he doesn't like something the 'D' did, we just talk about it."

"Theo's more laid back and just relaxes out there."

"Since I've been back, every single game, it's been like 'Wow.' 'Theo's been playing great. If you're going to go far, you need a good goalie."

"He seems composed, he seems confident. His quickness reflects his anticipation ... Recapturing that confidence from his earlier days is something that we were hoping he could reacquire. I think right from the outset, he got the right approach, handled it well, and I think [goalie coach Jeff Hackett, Theodore's former Montreal teammate] and him had a real nice, a real good relationship. They were working on him feeling good in the net. And when he got the net at a critical time, he just seemed to keep improving."

"Jose is a very talented goalie. He's just a guy you really trust back behind you. If there is a mistake, he's going to bail you out for sure."

"Even with the tough times, he had a great attitude. He's a terrific guy to have in net."

"He's been playing at a top level for most of the year. So, we've come to expect it. At this level, you can't go anywhere without great goaltending. He's been unbelievable for us. I can't say enough about him."

"I met Jose about five years ago. He actually called us because he plays guitar and he loves punk rock, and we were playing right near his home. He asked our manager if he could meet and play with us. We said of course, because he was like David Beckham – the famous soccer player – of Montreal."

"I had read about him in the newspaper and the next thing I knew we got off the plane and the cover of every newspaper in Montreal said that Jose was playing guitar that night. There was nothing about us. All anyone wanted to hear about was Theodore."

"He played a cover song by Bad Religion, American Jesus – he loved that song. And you know what? He’s a pretty good guitar player. We even sent him some demos while we were writing our new album, and he would call us up and already have the songs memorized."

"We’ve even stopped by Jose’s place a couple times, to play guitars, just hang out – and even we played Guitar Hero."

"He loves music, he’s got tattoos – he’s a rock star. Probably even more than me."

"He promised me once that we’ll go on the ice one day and do a shootout competition, and we have a wager about how many I’ll be able to score."

"I was happy to just be invited to the awards. After I won the first one [the Vezina], I said that's good, at least I won one of them. Then, I heard Wayne Gretzky pronounce my name [as the Hart winner], and I couldn't believe it."

"Winning the Hart was special. Growing up as a kid I watched guys like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux win the Hart Trophy, so it's not something that I thought was going to happen so soon in my career. But it wasn't until a week after I won the trophy that I realized how special it was and I was really emotional about it. It's something that no one can ever take away."

"It was funny going against Patrick Roy because I remember as a kid cheering for him to win the Vezina Trophy and now here I was against him. So it was a special feeling because he's probably been the best goalie in the League and there I am winning and beating him for the Vezina Trophy. So I was pretty happy about that. But any award you win in the NHL is special."

"Just being nominated with Patrick Roy for two awards was unbelievable."

"I don't like to compare myself to a guy like Patrick Roy. He did so much for the Canadiens. When I was young, the thing what I appreciated the most was he was very strong under pressure."

"The money won't change me with my parents or my friends. I didn't need anybody's pity before signing this contract. I'm going to keep my two feet solidly on the ground and constantly remember what got me that salary."

"Nothing can distract me. My mind is focused on winning."

"For sure it was a dream growing up," he explained. "Hockey is our main sport in Canada, so everybody wants to play (professional) hockey, especially for the Montreal Canadiens' fans growing up in Montreal."

"Excuse my French, but this is bull----."

"This is junk, and I hope it's not serious. The idea of a bigger net is crap. I was drafted as a goalie who has spent his life, since I was 7, learning to play the angles. And now, all of a sudden, they're thinking of doing this?"

"Changing our equipment is crap, too."

"For myself, it's the reason I like being in Montreal because the attention is around the hockey players and it makes you play better. It pushes you to another level. The day I want to stay out of the media is the day I'll go somewhere else. I like being here, but that was unfair."

"He couldn't beat me. That's the main thing."

"I didn't really know what was going on until the guy came on. He came at me with his head down so I just wanted to say 'Welcome to the big boys.' I poke-checked him to say, 'You have to keep your head up.' When he came back, I thought about going out of the net and not playing into his game, but then I thought he had the (courage) to go on the ice, so I let him have a free shot at me."

"Do you want to exchange heels?"

"I always like my hair real long and I like to keep it long as long as possible."

"If you look at me with no shirt, if I'm taking steroids then I should change the guy that's selling them to me because it's not working."

"Some of the criticism has been on the unfair side, but it comes with the territory."

''It's a good thing for my career. I really had a lot of fun playing in Montreal. I had a great time with the fans, my teammates and I was here for nearly 10 years, which is good. But now it's a new start. I'm going to be part of another great organization. It's a nice city and I know a lot of players there, but I have only good things to say about Montreal.''

''I want to make sure that I show everybody that Colorado made the better move.''

"That'll be my little personal challenge - to show he's right.''

"I remember when I was drafted, that was the first thing that came out. I always say it's not fair. What he's done in the game, he's in a class by himself. No goalies in this league - or ever - should be compared to Patrick."

"It's not fair being compared to the best goalie in the league. Nobody should be compared to him. When I say 'nobody,' I mean nobody in the league. He's in a class by himself. Obviously, as a goalie, yes, I have tried to look at what he's done and try to do the same things because he played so well under pressure ... I remember growing up in Montreal, he was cocky, but in a good way. He would be playing real well. He's a goalie that did so much for the game. He's in a class by himself."

"The flu's no excuse. It's never going to be an excuse. ... Obviously, I didn't play the way I wanted to. I know I can play better. If we're going to have a chance to win, I'm going to have to play better. That's no secret."

"... like I always say, you look at the people that did doubt you and you say, 'You were wrong. I'm a goalie that can make a difference.' "

"I felt as good as I ever felt in my career. I think I have more experience now. A lot of times during the season, if the team was coming back, I didn't panic, which maybe earlier on in my career, I would panic a little bit more ... I wouldn't really say it's being in a zone, because it's pretty much what I've been feeling since January. Like I said early on when I started to play, it's not about being in a zone, it's about playing the way I can. And that's what I'm doing now."

"People around the game, people that follow this, should make their own opinion. For me, it's clear in my mind, but I don't have to say it."

"I never play for a contract, not in my whole life. I've been playing since I've been 5 years old, and I've never played for a contract. So certainly, this year I'm not going to start playing for a contract. I'm playing for my teammates and myself. And the fans and everybody. I don't want to be specific. I'm just saying I'm playing for the enjoyment."

"He's a professioinal. Every time when he doesn't play, he's ready to play. That's the way you should approach games and yesterday I was a little bit sick and I'm sure he was aware of that. He came ready and he did the job and gave us a chance to win."

"I just turned it off and went straight to bed."

"In the playoffs, you want to try to keep your team in the game early on. When you're focused, you don't really count shots or you don't see time go by. You just try to hang in there and freeze pucks and make big saves."

"I always saw myself as a guy that was ready in the playoffs. I'm working hard and have confidence. I think it's about continuing the same way I played during the season."