The Washington Capitals signed goaltender Zach Fucale to a one-year, two-way contract on Wednesday.
Fucale will make $700k at the NHL level and $75k in the AHL.
The 25-year-old Fucale joins goaltenders Ilya Samsonov, Vitek Vanecek, and Pheonix Copley who are all under contract for next season.
Fucale, a 2013 second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens, played for the ECHL Orlando Solar Bears during the 2019-20 season, posting a 10-8-4 record, 2.36 goals-against average, and a .928 save percentage.
Fans might recall this beauty of a save by @fucale31 back in January that made the SportsCenter Top 10! pic.twitter.com/lbVWbtVMXc
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) August 19, 2020
The voice of the Bears, Zack Fisch, called Fucale a depth signing on Twitter.
Depth in net added to #Caps organization with the signing of Zach Fucale. Spent most of last year in ECHL. Vast international success including 2015 WJC Gold and 2x Spengler Cup winner. 25 years old, organization still sees potential for former 2nd round pick. https://t.co/hNyURz2hXu
— Zack Fisch (@zackfisch) August 19, 2020
Fucale tweeted that he was “very excited to get this opportunity!”
Very excited to get this opportunity! https://t.co/bp1nWiofcj
— Zach Fucale (@Fucale31) August 19, 2020
More from the Capitals:
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed goaltender Zach Fucale to a one-year, two-way contract ($700,000/$75,000), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Fucale, 25, posted a record of 10-8-4 with a 2.36 goals against average and a .928 save percentage in 24 games with the Orlando Solar Bears in the ECHL in 2019-20. The 6’2”, 187-pound goaltender also appeared in one game with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, stopping 12 of the 15 shots he faced.
The Laval, Quebec, native won gold with Team Canada at the 2019 Spengler Cup after going 3-0 with a 0.33 goals against average and a .986 save percentage. Fucale posted back-to-back shutouts, including one in the gold medal game, and he was named the tournament’s all-star goaltender.
Fucale played in five games with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves in 2018-19, recording a 1-3-0 record with a 2.51 goals against average and a .909 save percentage.
In 69 career AHL games with the St. John’s Icecaps, Laval Rocket, Chicago and Syracuse, Fucale has recorded a 28-32-6 record with a 3.09 goals against average, a .900 save percentage and two shutouts. Additionally, in another 111 career games in the ECHL with the Brampton Beast, the Fort Wayne Komets and Orlando, Fucale has posted a 57-32-11 record with a 2.97 goals against average and a .904 save percentage and eight shutouts.
Fucale was selected by the Montreal Canadiens with their second round pick, 36th overall, in the 2013 NHL Draft.
