Meet a New Canuck is a feature Ken Hill (@LWOSPuckHead) and I will be running throughout the off-season as an introduction to the newest members of the Vancouver Canucks.
Name: Richard Bachman
Position: Goaltender
Contract: Two years, $575,000 AAV
After losing Joacim Eriksson and Eddie Lack to Sweden and trade respectively, the Canucks needed a goaltender for the Utica Comets to support Joe Cannata, who played mostly in the ECHL last season, and also as insurance just in case Jacob Markstrom falters as the back-up to Ryan Miller at the NHL level. To fill exactly that need, the Canucks went out and signed semi-journeyman goaltender Richard Bachman to a two-year deal worth $1.15 million.
While Bachman doesn’t exactly boast an extensive National Hockey League resume, it is solid enough that, need be, it appears as though he could fill in nicely as a backup goaltender. Through 42 games played during stints with both the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers, Bachman has put up a GAA of 2.93 to go with a SV% of .904. Hardly sterling numbers, but when taking into account how defensively incapable some of the Stars’ and Oilers’ teams he played in front of were, they’re easily forgivable. In the American Hockey League last season, Bachman impressed with a 2.38 GAA and a .918 SV% as a member of the Oklahoma City Barons, while being named to the all-star team.
Bachman, a Colorado College alumni, comes from Salt Lake City, Utah, and was drafted in the 4th round (120th overall) of the 2006 entry draft by the Dallas Stars. Internationally, Bachman has represented the United States at the 2012 World Championships, and at the WCHA (Western Collegiate Hockey Association) level, he excelled, being named both player and rookie of the year in the same season in 2008-09.
One major disadvantage is his height, clocking in at 5’10”, and at 27 years of age, he is unlikely to get tall enough to shake that drawback. It’s that issue which has likely held Bachman back from establishing himself in the NHL, as his work at other levels demonstrates a decent amount of talent. It was on December 13th of 2011 that Bachman posted his first career NHL shutout, blanking the New York Rangers in a 1-0 Stars victory, after being called up to replace Andrew Raycroft as the back-up to Kari Lehtonen.
While it seems unlikely that Bachman will play a significant role with the Canucks throughout either of his two years, his signing was a shrewd one, specifically at the minor league level, where he will help mentor many of the young prospects that should be popping up in Utica over the next couple of seasons, as well as serving as a safety net for backup-to-be Markstrom.
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