The Washington Capitals have signed goaltender Pheonix Copley to a three-year, $3.3 million ($1.1 million AAV, or salary cap hit) contract extension. Copley’s current contract was set to expire at the end of the season where he would have been an unrestricted free agent.
Copley, 27, is 10-5-3, appearing in 19 games so far in his first full NHL season. Copley has a 2.98 goals against average and a .903 save percentage.
With prospects Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov waiting in Hershey, and franchise goalie Braden Holtby, whose contract expires after next season, Copley will likely be the backup for the foreseeable future for the Caps. The contract could also be protection for the looming Seattle expansion draft in 2020, which will have the same rules as the recent Vegas expansion draft.
Another 3 year deal for a backup goalie. GMs getting prepared for the Seattle expansion draft https://t.co/5pLGAuC7Re
— E.J. Hradek (@EJHradek_NHL) February 4, 2019
