Photo credit: Bruce Bennett

Eric Fehr has been the Washington Capitals’ big comeback story. Fehr left Washington for Winnipeg in 2011 after a few injury-riddled seasons, but returned to DC this offseason and has since become one of the team’s most reliable forwards. Fehr drives play more decisively than any other forward and has put up 8 goals and 8 assists in a shortened season against tough competition.

Fehr’s new contract will keep him in Caps red through 2015 and will earn him an average of $1.5 million a year.

From the Capitals:

The Washington Capitals have re-signed right wing Eric Fehr to a two-year contract, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. Fehr will earn $1.4 million in 2013-14 and $1.6 million in 2014-15.

Fehr, 27, has recorded 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) and 10 penalty minutes in 39 games with Washington this season. Fehr leads the team in plus/minus (+14) and ranks tied for fifth on the Capitals in goals. His 69 shots on goal rank seventh on Washington.

The 6’4”, 206-pound forward has collected 112 points (56 goals, 56 assists) and is a plus-41 in 304 career NHL games with Washington and Winnipeg. Fehr tallied 93 of those points (46 goals, 47 assists) in 230 career games with the Capitals from 2005-2011, including a career high 39 points (21 goals, 18 assists) in 69 games with Washington during the 2009-10 campaign. In 26 career playoff games, all with Washington, Fehr has recorded five goals and one assist.

The Winkler, Manitoba, native was the Capitals’ first-round choice, 18th overall, in the 2003 Entry Draft. He was an integral member of the Hershey Bears club that won the 2006 Calder Cup. In 19 playoff games that year, he had eight goals, three assists and scored the overtime game-winning goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to lift the Bears to the Calder Cup Final.