LaBate spent the past two weeks with Columbus and recorded an assist, 14 hits, 11 blocked shots and 10 PIM while averaging 9:06 of ice time over six appearances. The Blue Jackets are still dealing with several injuries among their group of forwards, so it's possible that LaBate returns to the NHL club soon. However, Friday's move gives the team flexibility to move him between the AHL and NHL as the season winds down.
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Blue Jackets' Joseph LaBate: Earns first career point
Rotowire
LaBate notched an assist and blocked three shots in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Red Wings.
LaBate looked to be a career AHL player until the Blue Jackets signed him to a two-way deal in November. He's been with the big club since the 4 Nations Face-Off ended, and he's now earned his first NHL helper when he assisted on Sean Kuraly's go-ahead goal in the second period Thursday. LaBate's only previous NHL experience came in the 2016-17 campaign with the Canucks, when he logged 13 appearances. He's unlikely to make much of a scoring impact from the fourth line, but he plays a heavy game and will help bolster the Blue Jackets' depth until some of their injured forwards can return.
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Blue Jackets' Joseph LaBate: Up from minors
Rotowire
LaBate was called up by Columbus on Thursday, per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.
LaBate has six goals, 13 points and 49 PIM over 33 appearances with AHL Cleveland in 2024-25. The 31-year-old might serve in a bottom-six capacity against Chicago on Saturday, depending on the availability of Boone Jenner (shoulder), Kirill Marchenko (jaw) and Kevin Labanc (upper body).
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Blue Jackets' Joseph LaBate: Signs two-way contract
Rotowire
LaBate signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Blue Jackets on Friday. He was also put on waivers for the purposes of sending him to AHL Cleveland.
LaBate has a goal, four points and six PIM in five appearances with AHL Cleveland this season. The 31-year-old is unlikely to play for Columbus in 2024-25. He has no points and 21 PIM in 13 career regular-season NHL outings.
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Canucks' Joseph LaBate: Re-signs with Canucks
Rotowire
LaBate re-signed with the Canucks on Friday to a one-year, two-way contract.
LaBate, who spent time in both Vancouver and AHL Utica last season, is a physical presence and figures to provide forward depth for the Canucks organization. The 24-year-old tallied 1.8 hits per game in 13 appearances with the Canucks last season. In Utica, he registered 16 points and 80 penalty minutes across 38 games.
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