Thanks for pointing this out to me - just read the yahoo article.
Irbe is very close to retirement - something like 37 I think. I love the 'The Little Latvian Bastard' (a nickname Brian came up with for Irbe). If it gives him a chance to play for a team that is willing to let him play instead of relegating him to AA hockey (he was on the Johnstown Chiefs for awhile), Godspeed LLB!
Since he is gone, Carolina needs to get a goalie to platoon (or take over the starting role) with Weekes because he has yet to prove he can handle a full season as a starter. Besides that, there were too many problems between him and the team last year. Also, I say platoon instead of signing a big named goalie because the just signed Cam Ward who I think is supposed to be an up and coming goalie and should be ready in a year or two (if they think it'll take longer, go for a good goalie, what the heck).