Kraken Sign a Fourth Goaltender

The Kraken added a fourth goaltender to their player development pool Friday, announcing American Hockey League all-star Antoine Bibeau has signed a one-year, two-way $750,000 average annual value contract with the NHL's 32nd franchise. The deal pays one salary if the player appears in NHL games and a different salary if logging time with the AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers.
Bibeau, 27, played for the AHL Chicago Wolves last season as part of the Carolina Hurricanes organization. The Wolves net was crowded with six different goalies sharing time over 33 games, including one conditioning start by veteran goalie Petr Mrazek (who signed with Toronto as a free agent this offseason).

Bibeau (first-last pronounced "an-TWAHN Bee-BOH) stood out among that AHL goalie group with a 2.49 goals-against average in eight appearances during 2020-21, notching a 7-2-1 record after a hip injury and ultimate season-ending surgery derailed his previous season with the Colorado organization.
"After a strong season in Chicago last year, we're excited to add Antoine to our mix of goaltenders," said Kraken General Manager Ron Francis. "His experience at both the NHL and AHL levels make him a valuable addition to our organization."
The Victoriaville, Que., native has played four NHL games, two with the Avalanche in 2019-20 season and two with Toronto during the 2016-17 season. The Maple Leafs drafted Bibeau (sixth round, 172nd overall, in the 2013 NHL Draft). His NHL stat line: four games, three starts, 2-1 record and 2.55 goals against average.
In between those years, Bibeau signed on with the San Jose Sharks and delivered in a big way for the team's AHL San Jose Barracuda (which also plays in the division rival's SAP Center). By all accounts, the Barracuda's unlikely late-season run to make the AHL playoffs in 2017-18 was primarily fueled by Bibeau's work in goal.

Bibeau played 41 contests for the Barracuda, posting a record of 23-14-2, 2.37 goals-against average, five shutouts and a .919 save percentage. He was named to the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic for his performance.
He finished the AHL season in the top 10 for Goals Saved Above Average (GSSA), a stat favored by analytics experts. GSSA takes the amount of shots a netminder faces and the league's average save percentage to create a plus/minus rating measuring how many extra goals the goalie prevented compared to an "average" goalie in the league.
Baseball fans (keep it going Mariners!) who know the term "wins above replacement" can think of GSSA as "goals above replacement).
The star turn is not new for Bibeau. During his final season as a highly-touted goaltender in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), he was awarded the Guy Lafleur trophy as the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's playoff MVP after leading his Val d'Or team to the 2014 President Cup championship.
Bibeau continued his hot hand in the hallowed Memorial Cup tournament played among the top teams in the junior-elite Canadian Hockey League (QMJHL, OHL, WHL). He earned tournament first-team all-star and outstanding goaltender honors by posting .932 save percentage and a 2.76 goals-against average in a Memorial Cup performance still fondly recalled in hockey-mad Quebec.
For fans wondering what the Kraken will do with four goalies, it is important for NHL teams to have depth at all positions. With the highly anticipated tandem of free agents Philipp Grubauer and Chris Driedger in goal for Seattle, expansion draft choice Joey Daccord (Ottawa, nine NHL appearances) and Bibeau provide that depth for any injuries or illnesses at the NHL level plus provide two NHL-tested goaltenders in the team's development system.