Photo: Grant Halverson
Around 12:30 PM, the Washington Capitals made their first splash into free agency, signing a minor yet potentially important player. Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Justin Peters has signed a two-year, $1.9 million deal, worth an annual average salary of $950K.
Peters, drafted 34th overall by the Hurricanes in 2004, will likely be the back-up for Braden Holtby. Peters played in the AHL before earning a call-up. He proved himself a solid goaltender as Cam Ward struggled with injury.
Peters is a notorious Caps-killer, posting a 4-3 record with a 1.67 GAA, .938 SV%, and two shutouts in seven career games against his new team.
Simply put: Peters is a solid goalie who can handle a potentially larger role if necessary. And he comes at a good price.
This move also signifies that Capitals prospect goalie, Philipp Grubauer will now be relegated to AHL Hershey and have to play out of his mind to force his way to the NHL.
Via the Caps:
The Washington Capitals have signed goaltender Justin Peters to a two-year, $1.9 million contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
“We are pleased to sign Justin to a two-year contract,” said MacLellan. “We feel he is just entering his prime and has a tremendous upside. We look forward to him working with our goaltending coach Mitch Korn to reach his potential.”
Peters, 27, appeared in a career-high 21 games during the 2013-14 season, recording a 7-9-4 record with a 2.50 goals-against average and .919 save percentage. The Blyth, Ont., native also represented Canada at the 2014 IIHF World Championship. Peters has posted a 22-31-8 record with three shutouts, a 3.05 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage in 68 career NHL games with the Carolina Hurricanes. Peters made his NHL debut on Feb. 6, 2010, stopping 34 of 35 shots to earn his first NHL victory and first-star honors in Carolina’s 3-1 at the New York Islanders. He was drafted by the Hurricanes in the second round, 38th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
The 6’1”, 210-pound goaltender played in six games with the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2013-14, posting a 4-1-1 record with a 2.14 goals-against average and .932 save percentage. Peters ranks first all-time among Checkers’ goalies who have played more than 20 games in goals-against average (2.47) and save percentage (.917) and is Charlotte’s all-time leader in shutouts (7) and holds the single-season shutout record with six during the 2012-13 campaign. Peters was named to the AHL All-Star Classic in 2010 and 2013 and was named Top Goaltender at the skills competition during the AHL’s All-Star weekend in 2013. In 219 career AHL games with Charlotte and Albany, Peters has posted a 98-95-10 record with 13 shutouts, a 2.72 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.
