Coyotes Sign Jason Labarbera to Two-Year Extension

The Phoenix Coyotes announced on Monday that they have signed goaltender Jason Labarbera to a two-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 17 games this past season, he posted a 7-6-3 record, two shutouts, a 3.26 GAA, and a .909 save percentage. In 141 career NHL games with the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, and Phoenix Coyotes, he has a 52-55-14 record, six shutouts, a 2.90 GAA, and a .906 save percentage. This is an okay signing for the Coyotes as Labarbera has been somewhat steady as a backup goaltender for the team. He has good size and provides plenty of veteran depth in goal for the team despite being a bit inconsistent at the NHL level. Even though there is a good chance starter Ilya Bryzgalov could leave the Coyotes via unrestricted free agency this summer, the team would likely replace him with another starter, leaving Labarbera as the backup once again next season.