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.

Coyotes Sign Free Agents Fiddler, Labarbera to Two-Year Deals

The Phoenix Coyotes added some depth to their roster on Wednesday by signing center Vernon Fiddler and goaltender Jason Labarbera to two-year contracts. Fiddler’s contract is $2.2 million, which averages out to $1.1 million per season, while the terms of Labarbera’s contract were not disclosed. In 78 games last season with the Nashville Predators, Fiddler scored 11 goals and six assists for 17 points. In 305 career games, all with the Predators, he has 45 goals and 48 assists for 93 points. Labarbera split last season with the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks after being traded to the Canucks in December for a seventh round draft pick in 2009. In 28 games last season, he posted an 8-10-6 record with a 2.78 GAA and a .901 save percentage. These two signings are okay for the Coyotes, but not big ticket signings like some Coyotes’ fans were probably hoping for. Fiddler gives the team plenty of offensive depth up the middle and is effective when killing penalties. Labarbera gives the Coyotes a capable back-up to Ilya Bryzgalov who can play close to 30 games per season. Phoenix probably could have signed a more proven back-up than Labarbera, but with the financial difficulties facing the team right now, this was probably the most economical choice for them.

Canucks Acquire Goaltender Labarbera from Kings

The Vancouver Canucks announced on Wednesday that they have acquired goaltender Jason Labarbera from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for the Canucks' 7th round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft. The trade comes in the wake of a groin injury to backup goaltender Curtis Sanford, who was placed on the injured list after Tuesday nights 3-2 loss at home to the Philadelphia Flyers. Canucks starter Roberto Luongo has been on the injured list with a groin injury since November 23, but has been skating with the team in practices recently. However, Luongo is not expected to return for at least three more weeks. With prospect Cory Schneider already up with the team and insufficient goaltending depth on their minor league teams, a trade for an experienced goaltender was a must for the Canucks. Labarbera had recently become expendable to the Kings given the improved play of rookie Jonathan Quick and the return of Erik Ersberg from injury. So far this season, Labarbera has gone 5-8-4 with a 2.83 goals-against-average and .893 save percentage with two shutouts in 18 games. Labarbera has struggled in net the past couple of seasons in Los Angeles due in large part to the Kings' porous defense. He has the skills to be a decent goaltender and likely just needed a change of scenery in order to further those skills. Labarbera will be a good fill-in goaltender for the Canucks until Luongo and Sanford return from injury and could see an improvement in his game playing behind a stronger defense.