Arturs Irbe

Last updated

BIOGRAPHY

BORN: Riga, Soviet Union (now Latvia), February 2, 1967
HOME: Irving, Texas.
HEIGHT: 5'7"-5'8".
WEIGHT: 175-190 lbs.
UNIFORM #: 32 (San Jose), 1 (Carolina, Latvia)
CATCHES: Left
SALARY (1997-98): $775,000 ($400,000 1996-97)

STYLE: European.
STRENGTHS:
WEAKNESSES: Very poor stickhandler.
Name pronounced AHR-tuhrs UHR-bay

OTHER ARTURS IRBE SITES:

The Great Wall of Vancouver - Araw's Arturs Irbe Page

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:

"Ended the season on a strong note but had his usual ups and downs during the course of last season. Irbe is a shaky No. 1, but a fine backup." (The Sports Forecaster '97-'98, p. 162)

"Unwanted for the most part in the summer of '98, Jim Rutherford signed Irbe for a mere $550,000. The GM was rewarded with one of Irbe's best seasons ever, and a trip to the All-Star game. Proved he's not a playoff goalie by allowing several weak ones against Boston. One of the last goalies to wear a "bird cage" mask, Irbe has quick reflexes, but can be beaten by some bad goals. He's now the No. 1 man, with the departure of Kidd." (The Sports Forecaster 1999-2000, p. 130)

"The two-time all-star has been impressive since arriving in Carolina two seasons ago. Although he was signed as a backup goalie, the 'Canes were so impressed with the quick and acrobatic Latvian that they dealt Trevor Kidd to the Panthers. Strong along the ice. Opponents usually aim high against the small goalie. Will let in an occasional soft one but has posted a winning record in each of his last four seasons. Can also get into trouble when handling the puck away from the net. Without a doubt the No. 1 man in Carolina, Irbe isn't fazed by a heavy workload - he played 75 games last season. That bodes well for rookie Jean-Marc Pelletier, who will have the time to properly develop." (The Sports Forecaster 2000-01, p. 120)

""Archie" was once again sensational between the Carolina pipes in 2000-01. He finished the season tied for third in wins (37), recorded six shutouts and led all NHL netminders with 77 appearances. The 5-8 Irbe is remarkably durable for a goalie of his stature. The more he plays, it seems, the fresher he looks. In fact, the Latvian backstop may have saved his best hockey for the playoffs, where he stole two games for Carolina in their first-round defeat at the hands of the New Jersey Devils. Irbe will once again try to almost single-handedly lead the 'Canes into the playoffs. Sooner or later, however, the team will need to supply him with more rest." (The Sports Forecaster 2001-02, p. 122)

"It was a strange season for Irbe, filled with plenty of twists and turns. He began 2001-02 in a goaltending platoon with fellow veteran Tom Barrasso. During the Olympic break, he was denied permission to play in all of Latvia' qualifying contests, which raised his ire. While he played consistently down the stretch for the Hurricanes in leading them to the playoffs, he was replaced by newcomer Kevin Weekes midway through Round 1. When Irbe finally reentered the crease, however, he led Carolina to their first Stanley Cup final appearance. While Weekes is still very much in the picture, the 'Canes will continue to be Irbe's team." (The Sports Forecaster 2002-03, p. 120)

"A favorite with fans and teammates wherever he plats, Irbe was written off by the Hurricanes in 2003-04 and dispatched to the ECHL - where he starred for the Johnstown Chiefs. He later returned to the NHL to be showcased for a trade that never occurred. Irbe is one of the worst puck-handliong goalies ever." (The Sports Forecaster 2005-06, p. 101)

TRANSACTIONS:

ACCOLADES:

VEZINA TROPHY BALLOTING:

PTS1st2nd3rdRANKSHARE
1993-94911150.07
1994-951001130.01
1998-99100180.01
2000-012002100.01

ALL-STAR TEAM BALLOTING:

PTS1st2nd3rdRANKSHARE
1993-942012950.07
1998-99401170.01
1999-00100180.00
2000-011001120.00

INJURIES:

RECORDS:

PENALTY SHOTS:

DID YOU KNOW?

SEASON RECORDS:

REGULAR SEASON
Year  Team                        GP    Min   W   L   T    GA    GAA   Shots    Sv%   ShO   G   A   PiM     S/60    PERS     3STARS
84-85 Dynamo Riga USSRJr
      Soviet Union EURO JUNIOR     5    300                 5   1.00                    0
85-86 Dynamo Riga USSRJr
86-87 Dynamo Riga USSRJr
      Dynamo Riga USSR             2     27                 1   2.22                    0
87-88 Dynamo Riga USSR            34   1870                84   2.70                    0
88-89 Dynamo Riga USSR            40   2460               116   2.85                    0
      Dynamo Riga SUPER SERIES     7    425                23   3.25
89-90 Dynamo Riga USSR            48   2880               116   2.42                    0
      CSKA Moscow SUPER SERIES     4    240                10   2.50
      Soviet Union WORLD           6    315   4   0   1     5   0.95                    1
90-91 Dynamo Riga USSR            46   2713               133   2.94                    0
91-92 Kansas City Blades IHL      32   1955  24   7   1    80   2.46                    0
      San Jose Sharks NHL         13    645   2   6   3    48   4.47     365   .868     0   0   1     0    33.95  925.08
92-93 Kansas City Blades IHL       6    364   3   3   0    20   3.30                    0
      San Jose Sharks NHL         36   2074   7  26   0   142   4.11    1250   .886     1   0   0    10    36.16  946.67
93-94 San Jose Sharks NHL         74   4412  30  28  16   209   2.84    2064   .899     3   0   2    16    28.07  945.52
94-95 San Jose Sharks NHL         38   2043  14  19   3   111   3.26    1056   .895     4   0   0     4    31.01  946.58
95-96 San Jose Sharks NHL         22   1111   4  12   4    85   4.59     607   .860     0   0   0     4    32.78  914.60
      Kansas City Blades IHL       4    226   1   2   1    16   4.25                    0
      Latvia WORLD-B               4    240   3   0   1     7   1.75                    0
96-97 Dallas Stars NHL            35   1964  17  12   3    88   2.69     825   .893     3   0   2     8    25.19  935.32
      Latvia WORLD                 5    300   4   0   1    10   2.00                    1
97-98 Vancouver Canucks NHL       41   1999  14  11   6    91   2.73     982   .907     2   0   0     2    29.47  956.46
      Latvia WORLD                 6    358   3   2   1    17   2.85                    1
98-99 Carolina Hurricanes NHL     62   3643  27  20  12   135   2.22    1753   .923     6   0   0    10    28.87  971.11
      Latvia WORLD                 4    238                12   3.02      86   .860     0
99-00 Carolina Hurricanes NHL     75   4345  34  28   9   175   2.42    1858   .906     5   0   1    14    25.66  948.57
      Latvia WORLD                 5    420   3   1   1    17   2.43     180   .907     0             4
00-01 Carolina Hurricanes NHL     77   4406  37  29   9   180   2.45    1947   .908     6   0   2     6    26.51  951.74  6-12-7 (73)
      Latvia WORLD                 6    360                13   2.17     159   .924     2             0
01-02 Carolina Hurricanes NHL     51   2974  20  19  11   126   2.54    1282   .902     3   0   1    10    25.86  944.82
      Latvia OLYMPICS              1     60   0   1   0     4   4.00      29   .862     0   0   0     0    29.00  910.40
02-03 Carolina Hurricanes NHL     34   1884   7  24   2   100   3.18     816   .877     0   0   0     4
      Lowell Lock Monsters AHL     7    426   3   3   1    21   2.95     229   .908     0   0   0     2
03-04 Johnstown Chiefs ECHL       14    847  10   3   1    30   2.13     411   .927     1   0   2     2
      Carolina Hurricanes         10    564   5   2   1    23   2.45     228   .899     0   0   0     2
04-05 Latvia WORLD                 6    283   2   2   1     7   1.48     124   .944     2   0   0     2
THIRTEEN (13) NHL SEASONS        568  32066 218 236  79  1513   2.83   15033  0.899    33   0   9    90

POST-SEASON
Year  Team                        GP    Min   W   L   GA    GAA   Shots    Sv%   ShO   G   A   PiM     S/60    PERS     3STARS
91-92 Kansas City Blades IHL      15    914  12   3   44   2.89                    0
93-94 San Jose Sharks NHL         14    806   7   7   50   3.72     399   .875     0   0   0     6    29.70  924.19
94-95 San Jose Sharks NHL          6    369   2   4   32   5.20     210   .848     0   0   0    10    34.15  904.53
96-97 Dallas Stars NHL             1     12   0   0    0   0.00       4  1.000     0   0   0     0    20.00 1033.33 
98-99 Carolina Hurricanes NHL      6    408   2   4   15   2.21     181   .917     0   0   0     0    26.62  961.49
00-01 Carolina Hurricanes NHL      6    360   2   4   20   3.33     201   .900     0   0   0     4    33.50  956.33  1-1-1  (9)
01-02 Carolina Hurricanes NHL     18   1078  10   8   30   1.67     480   .938     1   0   0     0    26.72  982.03
SIX (6) NHL POSTSEASONS           45   2673  21  23  127   2.85    1274  0.900     1   0   0    16    28.60  947.98

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INTERNATIONAL GAME DIRECTORY:

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