The San Jose Sharks have signed goaltender Antoine Bibeau to a two-year contract extension, avoiding restricted free agency with the 23-year old goaltender. Bibeau will be the third Sharks goaltender to start an extension next season, after Martin Jones and Aaron Dell already inked contracts in the past year. Financial details have not been released.
Bibeau was signed to a one-year two-way deal last offseason after going unqualified by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and has posted strong numbers with the San Jose Barracuda. His .928 save percentage puts him third in the AHL behind only Michael Hutchinson and former teammate Garret Sparks, and has once again sparked his potential as a future NHL netminder. Though he wasn’t selected until the sixth round in 2013, his size—6’3″ 207-lbs—and athleticism is an intriguing combination for the Sharks. While they’re set at the NHL level for the next few seasons with Jones and Dell, every organization needs a solid #3 to step up if injuries should occur.
In two games with the Maple Leafs last season, Bibeau actually played quite well stopping 51 of 55 shots for a .927 save percentage. He’ll be tasked with the starting job for the Barracuda for the time being, but could play himself into a very interesting position after the 2019-20 season. Bibeau will finish this extension at the age of 26, and will qualify for unrestricted free agency. Even without much NHL experience, if his success at the AHL level continues he could be an interesting trade chip or piece in free agency for a club willing to take a risk.