On a day where the Capitals have been shoring up their bottom-six forwards with new signings Richard Panik, Garnet Hathaway, and Brendan Leipsic, general manager Brian MacLellan also secured depth in goal for the Capitals and for Hershey.

Capitals announced on Monday that goaltender Vitek Vanecek has signed a three-year, $2.15 million contract with the Capitals, the first year being two-way, while the final two years will be one-way with the Capitals.

Last season in Hershey, the 23-year old Vanecek split the net with Capitals’ 2015 first-round draft pick Ilya Samsonov. Vanecek played 38 games and had a 21-10-6 regular season record with a 2.62 goals against average and .907 save percentage. Vanecek was named to the 2019 AHL All Star Game.

Vanecek and Samsonov alternated as the Capitals’ third goalie during the 2019 playoffs and traveled with the Capitals as they took on the Carolina Hurricanes.

While Samsonov and Vanecek are each other’s biggest rivals in terms of getting a shot on the Capitals roster, the two goaltenders have a close friendship.

More from the Capitals:

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have re-signed goaltender Vitek Vanecek to a three-year, $2.15 million contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. The first year of Vanecek’s contract will be a two-way contract ($700,000 NHL; $160,000 AHL), while the final two years will be one-way ($700,000 and $750,000).

Vanecek, 23, posted a record of 21-10-6 with a 2.62 goals against average and a .907 save percentage in 38 games with the Bears last season. The 6’1”, 190-pound goaltender was named to the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic and was named the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Oct. 21, 2018. In that span, Vanecek posted a 2-0-1 record with a 1.62 goals against average and a .949 save percentage, stopping 94 of 99 shots in three road starts. The Havlickuv Brod, Czech Republic, native allowed two or fewer goals in 19 games last season. Additionally, Vanecek posted a 1-3 record with a 2.25 goals against average and a .935 save percentage in four playoff games.

In 110 career games with the Bears, Vanecek has a 52-33-24 record with a 2.69 goals against average, a .903 save percentage and nine shutouts.

The Capitals selected Vanecek with their second round pick, 39th overall, in the 2014 NHL Draft.