Edmonton Signs Richard Bachman To Lead The Barons

From the team website:

The Oilers have agreed to terms with goaltender Richard Bachman on a one-year contract.

Bachman, 25, played 13 games for the Dallas Stars last season and had a 6-5-0 record with a 3.25 goals-against average and .885 save percentage. He also played six games for the Texas Stars of the AHL and was 5-1-0 with a 2.31 GAA and .920 spct.

In 32 career NHL games, Bachman has a 14-10-1 record with a 2.94 goals-against average and .901 save percentage.

The 5'10" 175 lb native of Salt Lake City, Utah was Dallas' fourth choice, 120th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Neal Livingston is all over this one at Tend The Farm:

I really really liked Bachman for a long time, that is until he started playing NHL minutes. He’s small. Some goaltenders can overcome this, and for much of his collegiate and early pro years, he’s compensated with speed and positioning. He has a tendency to be streaky, and that’s not what Dallas needed in a backup. But is it what the Oilers need in a backup’s backup?

Here’s the problem with my scouting report on Bachman. He was really good against the Barons in the dozen or so starts he had against the team. He was quick. He was smart. He was sturdy. But that hasn’t always been the case. As a matter of fact, he lets in a bunch of goals. Yet still, he’s never posted an under-500 win percentage, and that’s enough for Craig MacTavish (I suppose).

Click through to read the rest of Neal's take.