Jeff Deslauriers, G (nhl.com)
The Anaheim Ducks have officially announced the signing of free agent goaltender Jeff Deslauriers to a two-year contract. In 58 career NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers, Deslauriers has a 20-31-4 record with a 3.27 GAA and a .901 SV%.
The signing is reportedly a two-way contract for the first year, and a one-way contract for the second year.
Standing at 6’4″, Deslauriers is another addition to the Ducks’ collection of larger goaltenders (Igor Bobkov is also 6’4″, while Iiro Tarkki and John Gibson are both 6’3″). Deslauriers spent the entire 2010-2011 season in the AHL with the Oklahoma City Barons, appearing in 35 games and finishing the season with a 17-13-4 record, an 2.81 GAA, and a .906 SV%.
Deslaurier’s contract structure makes sense when considering that goalie Dan Ellis will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2011-2012 season. With Jonas Hiller and Ellis in net this year, Deslauriers will play in Syracuse. With the departure of Ellis next year, Deslauriers can step in as Hiller’s backup.
The Ducks’ goalie coach Pete Peeters has worked with Deslauriers before while in Edmonton, and likely played a large role in the Anaheim’s signing of the young goaltender.
Read more insight on the Deslauriers signing over at The Goalie Guild, and read the official announcement from Ducks.NHL.com.