Jason LaBarbera, `forgotten backup'
Even though he's not a King anymore, a) it's the doldrums of May and b) Jason LaBabera is always a favorite topic here, it seems. The Vancouver Sun today wrote about LaBarbera's future prospects (or lack thereof) with the Canucks.
LaBarbera, 29, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. After the trade from the Kings in December, LaBarbera appeared in only nine games and had a 2.66 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage.
``It's not easy playing just once a month,'' LaBarbera said ``I've never really been a backup my whole life. As far as seeing what's out there, I don't know who needs goalies and who else will be available. But one thing I've learned is that you can never predict what's going to happen.''
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J.P. Hoornstra writes about NHL and IHL hockey for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. He welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
E-mail J.P. at jp.hoornstra@inlandnewspapers.com.
Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews
.com.
Vincent Bonsignore is a sports columnist for the Los Angeles Daily News. E-mail Vinny at vincent.bonsignore
@dailynews.com.
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Jason never embarrassed the Los Angeles Kings organization, so I wish him luck in his future endeavors, be they in the NHL or abroad.
A great guy who i think everyone was rooting to work out here but never found his "starter" groove, hope he finds employment in the NHL but i think he's europe/russia bound.
Just keep him out of Kings jersey. I saw way too much of him when he was here. My advice would be to stay a backup in Vancouver because he I think it is unlikely that he will be a number 1 in this league.
I hope he gets what he wants but I just see him as a starter in the NHL.
Beggers can't be choosers.
He should just be thankful he still has a job.
Next season, if another NHL team is crazy enough to sign him, he should get on his knees and count his blessings. He's an AHL goalie at best and thats all.
I had all I can take from Mr. Beachball #2.
"I absolutely enjoyed my time here even though I didn't get to play. Being on a winning team is a heck of a lot better than losing, I'll tell you that much."
Not sure if he is trying to "direct" anything to X.
Labarbera seemed like a really cool, down to earth human being. However, he has to be one of the worst shootout goalies I've ever seen. It was torture watching him in goal during a shootout and you knew he would probably not get a save. Stay in BC and continue to smoke your greens...
I felt that he spent too much time with Dan Cloutier and picked up the worst parts of his game. That's the main reason why we're not deep in the playoffs.
OFF TOPIC
Unrelated to Jason Labarbera story.
Good article on Paajarvi-Svensson on nhl.com
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=417287
Sorry Rich but I thought I would share cause the Kings may draft this kid.
THANKS RICH FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO US KING FANS THIS YEAR.
This was my #1 destination every time I went on line.
Did Jason ever consider the fact that he himself contributed to the Kings being a losing team? No doubt he's one of the worst shootout goalies in league history. He had multiple opportunities to establish himself as the #1 in LA, but failed. Good Luck to him.
i wish him the best, but he might be done as a starter...there might be someone out there willing to give him a chance to win a job during a training camp if vancouver doesn't want him back, but he's going to be a journeyman goalie from now on, unless something drastic happens...
i think the quicker jason can get over the fact that he probably isn't going to be "the man" anymore, the better off he will be and might enable him psychologically to be a strong backup/#2...and there's nothing wrong with that...
His one and only chance of being a starter was here, and he blew it, atleast 3 separate times. Seriously, who gets that many chances?
His only shot in the dark of being a starter is to go to NYI and hope Dipietro's storied injuries continue (I hope they don't, because I love Rick as a goalie and want to see him play a full year already), or some other team with a clear cut #1 who can't seem to stay healthy for more than 40 games.
I'm so glad he's gone. Can we never mention him again? That would be nice.
If he likes being on a winning team my suggestion for him is that he shoot specifically for a backup role.
Every time I see this headline, I think it reads, "Jason LaBarbera, forgotten f**k-up."
Roman Cechmanek got regular work in Europe - I suggest LaBs look there
Having kept Lolbarbera for as long as the Kings did should teach them a lesson, in that the time wasted on his second and third chances could have been used on Bernier.
Don't let there be a second time, Kings staff. Bernier could have easily come up to play for as many games as JLB played last season, with the at least the same results, if not better.