stonecoldstevebernier Posted December 18, 2016 Share Posted December 18, 2016 Labate had an eventful game yesterday; in the first period he landed a huge hit on Francis Perron of the Sens and got into a fight with Patrick Sieloff right after. I haven't been able to find footage of the hit, but it was a heavy check right into Perron's chest that knocked him over flat on his back. Hopefully the Comets post a highlight video including it. Here's the fight: Labate was also instrumental in creating the third Utica goal, finding a way to throw the puck in front where it bounced off of Cassels' skate: But on the other end of the spectrum, he could've prevented the Sens tying goal by being harder on the puck carrier. He's the one who attempts the weak poke check at the end here to try and take the puck away. Should've tied up Flanagan's stick or taken the body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shad0w4life Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 The guy tripping and falling coulda also stood on his feet and helped Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Canucks Army is doing their midterm prospects rankings. LaBate clocks in at #13. Here's the link: http://canucksarmy.com/2017/1/16/canucks-army-midterm-prospect-rankings-14th-13th I'll put their writeup inside a spoiler: #13: JOSEPH LABATE Position: Right Wing - Shoots: Left - Height: - 6'4" - Weight: 190 lbs Joseph LaBate has drifted in an out of Canucks' fans consciousness over the past several seasons. Taken in the fourth round (101st overall) at the 2011 NHL draft, LaBate got a fair amount of attention from Canucks Army in his first year as a prospect. He debuted at #8 on the original Canucks Army Prospect Rankings back in 2012, when hopes were that he might develop into a productive NHL forward following a freshman season with the University of Wisconsin in which he scored 20 points in 37 games. In that freshman season, and at the draft the June previous, LaBate had been earning comparisons to players like Joe Thornton and David Backes. Imagine that. Over the next few seasons, LaBate's production in college remained relatively static, and as a result, projections of his future became significantly less optimistic. Rather than turning pro, LaBate remained in Wisconsin for all four of his college seasons, and fell into relative obscurity among Canucks prospects. LaBate resurfaced last season as he turned pro and joined the Utica Comets. He shared his rookie professional year with highly touted prospects Cole Cassels and Jordan Subban, as well as recent signee Ashton Sautner, which meant that LaBate has few expectations placed upon him that year. Quietly, he put up 20 points that season, putting Cassels' seven points to shame and driving himself back into the the minds of Canucks fans. LaBate's second season with the Comets has been largely affected by injury, and he's managed to get into just 19 games so far, tallying 8 points (two goals, six assists), which technically represents an improvement in points per game. He also earned his first NHL call up and played in three games with the Canucks, collecting no points and seven penalty minutes. Were LaBate to return to the NHL lineup, his cohort projections suggest that it wouldn't be as an everyday player - more matches were considered replacement level forwards than any other style of deployment. While he's still a long shot at being an NHL regular, it wouldn't shock me to see LaBate earn some more chances in the lineup (were the Canucks to get into some serious injury trouble), nor to produce a little bit more if he spent some extra time there. He scored some offensive talent during the NHL preseason, scoring a breakaway goal as well as setting up Anton Rodin with a beautiful cross-zone saucer pass. There are a few talents bubbling below the surface in a player whose main role in professional hockey thus far has been to bang and crash, combined with the occasional bout of fisticuffs. Travis Green seems to have noticed this as well, as LaBate saw a fair bit of time on the first unit power play earlier in the season as a net front player, mainly when both the Canucks and Comets were marred by injury, and before Jake Virtanen arrived - but he's rewarded his coach with four power play points, which ranks seventh on the Comets. At even strength, LaBate has played up and down the lineup, seeing spot duty in the top six, and lately finding himself consistently on Cole Cassels' wing in the bottom six. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecoldstevebernier Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 Labate's goal from today was an absolute beauty. The whole Utica team played great today and Labate himself had a solid game from start to finish. Hopefully we'll see him compete for regular time on the fourth line in camp next year, as I think he deserves a long look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hard_As_Ice Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Does anyone else think Labate (La Bait) should change the way he pronunciates his name to LA BAH TAY?Goal, La BAH TAY!! Sure sounds better then Goal, LA BAIT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckleHorse Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 On March 19, 2017 at 3:53 PM, Hard_As_Ice said: Does anyone else think Labate (La Bait) should change the way he pronunciates his name to LA BAH TAY?Goal, La BAH TAY!! Sure sounds better then Goal, LA BAIT. Does sound better I like to call him LaBattie - La Bat Tea because on the ice he plays along the line of dirty and bat $#%& crazy at times if he was a better fighter he would be in my top 5 favourites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecoldstevebernier Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 From earlier today: no surprise here, Labate's come a long way in his two year ELC and should be a challenger for a fourth line spot next season. He'll have to do a bit more to stay in the NHL lineup though, and hopefully bring some of that occasional offensive spark he's shown at times with the Comets. He'll probably be in direct competition with Cramarossa in camp this year which should be an interesting battle to watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecoldstevebernier Posted June 26, 2017 Share Posted June 26, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cramarossa Posted June 26, 2017 Share Posted June 26, 2017 12 minutes ago, stonecoldstevebernier said: Finally!! I've been waiting with bated breath over here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaudette Celly Posted June 26, 2017 Share Posted June 26, 2017 1 hour ago, Cramarossa said: Finally!! I've been waiting with bated breath over here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
komodo0921 Posted June 26, 2017 Share Posted June 26, 2017 Hoping to see a big step to the big show from Big Joe this year. His hard checking, mean game is desperately needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cripplereh Posted June 26, 2017 Share Posted June 26, 2017 I think he should make it and be on the 4th line to start the season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boudrias Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 On 6/26/2017 at 1:02 PM, cripplereh said: I think he should make it and be on the 4th line to start the season If he does not make the starting line up I suspect he still plays 30 -40 games this year. He is the type of player who could win a spot with a strong camp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire_Spiky Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 He should make the team as we lack what he brings to the table. Our lineup does not have enough size/grit and no one to fill that role which he can do effectively without being a defensive liability. Here's hoping he has a good camp and makes it an easy decision for the coaching staff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckinEdm Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 5 hours ago, Spitfire_Spiky said: He should make the team as we lack what he brings to the table. Our lineup does not have enough size/grit and no one to fill that role which he can do effectively without being a defensive liability. Here's hoping he has a good camp and makes it an easy decision for the coaching staff. Dorsett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cripplereh Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Jake if he makes it as him and Labate should be well looked at Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RetroCanuck Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 8 hours ago, CanuckinEdm said: Dorsett Is overrated and overpaid. He's just too old for the style he plays. Time to move on too young talent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlwaysACanuckFan Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stierlitz Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecoldstevebernier Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 Should be interesting to see whether its a one way or two way deal. I previously thought he'd be a contender for a fourth line spot in the fall, but given the Gagner and Burmistrov signings, our forward group is looking a little crowded so that seems a little less likely now. He'll probably start in Utica but will be a solid candidate for a call-up once injuries hit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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