Continuing their foray into the free agent market, the Chicago Blackhawks added to their goaltending depth by signing Jean-Francois Berube to a two-year deal, reportedly worth $1.5 million total, an annual cap hit of $750,000.
Another younger player, Berube will turn 26 on July 13. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
He never made it to the NHL with the Kings and was claimed on waivers by the New York Islanders on October 6, 2015. He made his NHL debut four days later, dropping a 4-1 decision against the Blackhawks.
Berube has played a total of 21 NHL games, posting a 3.11 GAA and a .900 save percentage. With no other NHL-proven goalie behind Chicago starter Corey Crawford, Berube figures to be another player to audition for the role of backup goalie, along with the recently-acquired Anton Forsberg.
And if Twitter is any indication, he’s happy to be signing in Chicago.
I’m really excited for this new chapter with the @NHLBlackhawks !
— JF Berube (@JRouby) July 1, 2017
For more information on the Blackhawks free agent situation, click here.