COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 16 (UPI) -- The Columbus Blue Jackets added a veteran backup goaltender Wednesday, acquiring Arturs Irbe from Carolina for future considerations.
A two-time All-Star, the 37-year-old Irbe was selected in the 10th round of the 1989 draft by the Minnesota North Stars. The diminutive Latvian was claimed by San Jose in the dispersal draft in 1991 and has a 218-236-79 career record in 568 games with the Sharks, Dallas, Vancouver and Carolina.
Irbe posted a career-high 37 victories with the Hurricanes in 2000-01 and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals the following season. He appeared in just 34 games in 2002-03 and 10 last season, spending most of the campaign in the ECHL.
"Arturs Irbe is a proven National Hockey League goaltender who has played in two All-Star games and led Carolina to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002," Columbus General Manager Doug MacLean said. "He is coming off an outstanding performance at this year's world championships and we felt this was a good opportunity for us to add a proven veteran to our mix at that position."
