Ducks Goalie Depth: Jason LaBarbera and Igor Bobkov
Oct 14, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Edmonton Oilers goalie
Jason LaBarbera(1) follows the puck against the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jason LaBarbera (NHL Career: 60-73-19 2.86 GAA, .907 sv %) was brought in this offseason to be the veteran presence in the locker room. He was a low risk $1 million/ 1 year bargain acquisition with 11 years of NHL experience. While he hasn’t seen more than 40 appearances in season since the 07-08 season with the Kings, he has been a solid plan B for top end netminders like Jonathan Quick (LA), Roberto Luongo (VAN), and Ilya Bryzgolov and Mike Smith (PHX).
The Ducks hope that this experience can lend a helping hand to their budding stars between the pipes as to how to approach an entire year in the NHL, as neither has spent a full season with the big club. This also gives Anaheim a goalie who they can have confidence in spot-starting in case of an injury or sickness to either Andersen or Gibson.
This signing wasn’t meant to be mind-blowing, but it does allow flexibility between the pipes, depending on how the Ducks decide to use up and comer John Gibson. They can have LaBarbera start the year as the backup behind Andersen, while playing Gibson at the AHL level until the team feels Andersen needs a break, or just want to go with Gibson for a stretch and pull Labarbera down to Norfolk.
We’ve seen this strategy before in St. Louis, where a young goalie like Jake Allen isn’t able to develop his game while sitting on the bench, and the team would rather get give him reps in game situations. On the other hand, Gibson can start with the big club, and LaBarbera can stay with the Ad’s as the #3, mentoring the young 6’6 Russian Igor Bobkov.
The Ducks youth is still very wet behind the ears, with only appearances in 31 regular season games between Andersen and Gibson, and they could very well use the tutelage LaBarbera and Goaltending Coach Dwayne Roloson during the 14-15 season and beyond.