Toronto Maple Leafs sign Antoine Bibeau
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced the club has signed Val-d’Or Foreurs goaltender Antoine Bibeau to a three-year, entry-level contract. No financial details were released due to league protocol.
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The Maple Leafs selected Bibeau, 20, in the sixth round (No. 172) of the 2013 NHL Draft.
The 20 year old started the 2013-14 campaing with the Charlottetown Islanders before heading over to help the Val-d’Or Foreurs win the QMJHL President’s Cup championship.
Bibeau had a 16-8 record with a 2.80 goals against average and .913 save percentage resulting in him winning the Guy Lafleur Trophy as QMJHL playoff MVP. Bibeau was the first goalie to receive the trophy since current Leafs starting goaltender Jonathan Bernier won the award in 2007 with the Lewiston MAINEiacs.
Bibeau was also named the Outstanding Goaltender during the Mastercard Memorial Cup due to having a .932 save percentage and a 2.76 goals-against average throughout four games played. He faced a minimum of 50 shots in three of the four games including a 50 save effort during a triple overtime loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings in the semifinals.
Bibeau is a 6’3″, 207 pound native of Victoriaville, Quebec has great potential to make an impact with the Maple Leafs. He went 21-18-6 with a 3.17 GAA and .907 save percentage in 48 regular-season games between the Val-d’Or and the Charlottetown Islanders.
The Maple Leafs went 38-36-8 in the 2013-14 season and was sixth in the NHL Atlantic Division. The team is currently is in revamp mode and some even say that they have more future role players than actual stars on the roster. Not necessarily a bad thing, the team now has a chance to mold these young players into playing the type of hockey the franchise wants to play.
Leafs vice president of hockey operations, Dave Poulin, made a statement about the youth on the roster:
"“There’s been a lot of talk about the players on this team and what they are. I would say it’s a little bit different. This is largely a group that was taken in the 2010-11 draft. They’re a little bit earlier in their curve. That also bodes extremely well.”"