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Caps Re-Sign Philipp Grubauer to Two-Year, $1.5 Million Deal

By Ian Oland

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June 15, 2015 12:56 pm

It sure sounds like the Justin Peters era, at least in Washington, is over. The Capitals announced Monday afternoon that they re-signed talented goaltending prospect Philipp Grubauer to a one-way, two-year deal. Per Mike Vogel, now that he is on his second NHL contract, Grubauer must pass through waivers to be reassigned to the AHL.

After the season ended, Caps’ general manager Brian MacLellan spoke to Mike Vogel and indicated Grubauer would finally be getting a full-time roster spot. “We’re going to give Galiev a shot,” MacLellan said. “Chris Brown is going to get a shot. [Goaltender Philipp] Grubauer is going to get a shot and Schmitty is going to get a shot. We’ve got some guys who have put in some time development-wise [at AHL Hershey], and it’s going to be up to them to perform. They’ll all have chances to make the roster.”

Grubauer played two games in Washington this season. He won both, including a wild 4-3 victory over the Islanders in game two of the first round. Congratulations on the promotion, Grubi.

From the Caps:

The Washington Capitals have re-signed goaltender Philipp Grubauer to a two-year, one-way contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. Grubauer will earn $650,000 during the 2015-16 season and $850,000 in 2016-17.

Grubauer, 23, has appeared in 20 NHL games with the Capitals, posting a 7-6-5 record with a 2.44 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. The 6’1”, 192-pound goaltender made his 2014-15 regular season debut on Feb. 6 against Anaheim, stopping 23 shots in the Capitals’ 3-2 shootout victory to earn his first win of the season. Grubauer appeared in 17 games with Washington in 2013-14 and ranked eighth among NHL rookie goaltenders in saves (434) and wins (6). He recorded his first NHL win on Dec. 8 against the NY Rangers, becoming the second German-born goaltender in NHL history to record a victory (Thomas Greiss). Grubauer was selected by the Capitals in the fourth round, 112th overall, in the 2010 NHL Draft.

Grubauer made his NHL playoff debut on April 17 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the NY Islanders and stopped 18 shots to earn his first career playoff win. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Grubauer is the fifth rookie goaltender in Capitals history to pick up a win in his playoff debut the seventh rookie goaltender to start a playoff game in franchise history, joining Braden Holtby (2011), Michal Neuvirth (2010), Semyon Varlamov (2008, 2009), Jim Carey (1994), Byron Dafoe (1993) and Bob Mason (1986). In addition, Grubauer is the first German-born goaltender to start a playoff game in NHL history.

Grubauer posted a 27-17-5 record with six shutouts, a 2.30 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage in 49 games with Hershey (AHL) last season. He ranked third in the AHL in wins, tied for third in shutouts, 10th in goals-against average and tied for 10th in the League in save percentage. The Rosenheim, Germany, native was selected to represent the Eastern Conference at the 2015 AHL All-Star Classic in Utica, N.Y, and won the top goaltender award at the AHL All-Star Classic skills competition. Grubauer has registered a 55-39-9 record with 11 shutouts, a 2.37 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage in 105 career AHL games.

Additional reporting by Fedor Fedin.