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Hitchcock says Halak is healthy and ready to start

St Louis Blues v Los Angeles Kings

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 05: Jaroslav Halak #41 and Ian Cole #28 of the St. Louis Blues react to the goal of Slava Voynov #26 of the Los Angeles Kings for 4-2 Blues lead during the second period at Staples Center on March 5, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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Remember the rumors of there being issues between Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak and coach Ken Hitchcock at the end of last season? There was even talk that it could lead to the goalie being moved this summer.

Turns out all was well with Halak and he’s healthy and ready to get started on a new season as Hitchcock tells Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

“He’s a really young guy and you don’t want to have an injury-plagued career. So he wanted take the question marks out of it by having a really high fitness level. He’s done a really good job of finding that fitness level.”

Part of the talk of that discord last season centered around him not getting into games late in the season. As it turned out, he just wasn’t 100 percent healthy.

Even more encouraging for Halak was the talk from Hitchcock how he didn’t lose his starting job because of his play but because of his health. Since there will be three-way competition to play in St. Louis between him, Brian Elliott, and Jake Allen, things are looking up for Halak.

Follow @JoeYerdonPHT