Coyotes Sign Jason Labarbera

[R.Middleton]

GLENDALE, ARIZONA --- Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have signed goaltender Jason LaBarbera to a two-year contract. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

LaBarbera, 29, posted a record of 8-10-6 with a 2.78 goals against average (GAA), a .901 save percentage (SV%) and two shutouts in 28 games last season with the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks. After beginning the season with Los Angeles, LaBarbera was traded to Vancouver on Dec. 30, 2008 and went on to post a 3-2-2 record with a 2.66 GAA and a .915 SV% in nine games with the Canucks.

In 107 career NHL games with the New York Rangers, Los Angeles and Vancouver, LaBarbera has compiled a record of 37-44-10 with a 2.97 GAA, a .902 SV% and four shutouts.

Labarbera has also appeared in 247 career America Hockey League (AHL) games with Hartford and Manchester, posting a record of 131-75-20 with a 2.15 GAA, a .928 SV% and 28 shutouts. He was awarded the 2004 Les Cunningham Award as the AHL Most Valuable Player while also receiving the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Award as the League’s Outstanding Goaltender following the 2003-04 and 2006-07 seasons. In addition, he is a two-time First Team AHL All-Star and set the AHL record for shutouts in a season with 13 in 2003-04.

A native of Burnaby, British Columbia, LaBarbera was originally drafted by the New York Rangers in the third round (66th overall) of the 1998 Entry Draft. Prior to his professional career, LaBarbera spent four seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with Tri-City, Portland and Spokane, compiling a record of 62-58-14. He was a member of Portland’s 1998 Memorial Cup Championship team and was named a WHL All-Star in 1999-00.

[i-pod]

The yotes finally did some thing.

[R.Middleton]

Originally Posted by i-pod

The yotes finally did some thing.

They also signed Vernon Fiddler.

[i-pod]

Originally Posted by R.Middleton

They also signed Vernon Fiddler.

Oh. I forgot that

[Cat Smasher]

poor bastard

[lakingsfan19]

Yes, finally the kings will get to score a bunch off of him, instead of the yotes doing it when he was on the kings.

[dumby]

Originally Posted by lakingsfan19

Yes, finally the kings will get to score a bunch off of him, instead of the yotes doing it when he was on the kings.

I bet he spends most of the season in San Antonio.

[lakingsfan19]

Originally Posted by dumby

I bet he spends most of the season in San Antonio.

Yotes better hope he does.

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by Cat Smasher

poor bastard

well said. that must mean that schnider is gonna be up with the nucks this year and beyond... obviously the yotes dont have any confidence in tordjman or montoya either if they will even be back.

[canuckfan]

The only thing I'm really going to miss about LaBarbera is his goalie mask - he had a real cool mask design that had some vintage 'nuck artwork on it. He'll be fine for Phoenix if he's just counted on as a backup behind Ilya.

And yes, Schneider will be the backup for the Canucks next season - really no point in keeping him in the AHL for another year.

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by dumby

I bet he spends most of the season in San Antonio.

I sure hope so. Pretty useless signing as far as I'm concerned. LaBarbera sucks and I'd rather go with the cheaper and just as qualified Al Montoya.