Former Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek is getting a big payday from the New Jersey Devils.
Vanecek, a restricted free agent, inked a three-year deal with the Devils worth $3.4 million per season. The 26-year-old was coming off a three-year deal with Washington where he made $717k a year.
Vanecek posted a 20-12-6 record, posting a 2.67 GAA, .908 save percentage, and four shutouts last season.
The Metropolitan Division continues to load up as the offseason before the 2022-23 NHL season surges forward and the Pittsburgh Penguins are the latest team to jump into the arms race. The Pens made two moves on Saturday to address issues they believe they had on defense.
NHL rostered talent changed hands on both sides in separate deals with the New Jersey Devils and Montreal Canadiens.
By Chris Cerullo 1 year ago
The Washington Capitals made its first major splash of the offseason on Friday, trading Vitek Vanecek a day before his wedding to the New Jersey Devils for draft picks. The move paves the way for the Capitals to add a veteran goaltender either via trade or free agency.
Vanecek didn’t have time to react to the trade in real-time due to his pending huge event, but he jumped onto social media on Sunday to share his feelings.
The Washington Capitals’ young goalie tandem is no more.
The Capitals traded Vitek Vanecek and the 46th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft to Metropolitan Division foe, the New Jersey Devils, for the 37th overall pick and a third-round pick (70th overall). The deal came together shortly before the start of Day Two of the NHL Draft.
The Capitals were rumored to have interest acquiring Montreal Canadiens backup Jake Allen as of last night. It’s unclear if that’s their next move or something else.
By Ian Oland 1 year ago
The Washington Capitals kept a whole lot of doctors at bay as they took down the New Jersey Devils 4-3 at home. We asked for the full four in this back-to-back in the last morning post and they delivered.
Keep it chuggin’.
By Chris Cerullo 2 years ago
The Washington Capitals (mature but tired) narrowly defeated the New Jersey Devils (spry and rested) on home ice on Saturday night. An otherwise mundane game was elevated to classic status thanks to a game-winning pivotal goal from the man of the night, Nicklas Backstrom, and the apple-raining celebration that followed.
After a scoreless first period in which the score was 0-0 despite me calling it scoreless, Jack Hughes scored early in the second period, a dart just under the crossbar. Tom Wilson tied it up after a nice setup pass from Conor Sheary, but Damon Severson threaded the needle for a controversial go-ahead goal before the second intermission.
On a delayed penalty early in the third period, Connor McMichael recorded his ninth goal of the season, a layup after a lovely passing sequence. The man of the night, Nicky Backstrom, wristed the go-ahead goal in the third period, triggering an apple-toss bonanza. Alex Ovechkin added an interesting power-play goal for his 42nd. The Devils got one back in garbage time, but Washington held on for the win.
Caps win 4-3.
By Peter Hassett 2 years ago
The Washington Capitals broke their two-game losing streak against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, thanks to a big night from Alex Ovechkin and his alter ego Ovi The Goalie. Now the Capitals will try to win both games of their back-to-back against the New Jersey Devils.
Tonight the Capitals will celebrate Nicklas Backstrom breaking the 1000 point milestone with a pregame milestone. Fans in attendance are getting squishy apples to celebrate.
You can watch the game on NBC Sports Washington. Here are today’s Capitals Daily Deals in the NHL Shop.
The Washington Capitals cannot put out the same lineup for two games in a row and it’s killing them right now. Another meh, not-so-good performance against the Devils, and this time it cost them 4-3 in overtime.
Not the greatest way to start 2022.
By Chris Cerullo 2 years ago
The Washington Capitals’ first game of 2022 was mostly a stinker. Hosting the New Jersey Devils for an afternooner, most of the Caps didn’t really seem prepared for this one. But that’s not the whole story.
The Devils scored two goals in 75 seconds, one a rebound from Sharangovich, the other a brilliant cross-ice pass to Severson. John Carlson took a drop pass to make it 2-1 at the end of the first period, but Nico Hischier’s deflection early in the second period but the Caps back in their two-goal hole.
With just under seven minutes in regulation, Nic Dowd teamed up with Hathaway and Hagelin to bring the Caps within striking distance. Then Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood made a misplay that allowed Lars Eller to set up an alley oop for Conor Sheary, tying the game at three after regulation.
The Devils won it in overtime. Caps lose.
By Peter Hassett 2 years ago
The Washington Capitals are ill and not in a good way.
After getting several defensive reserves back from COVID-19 protocol (Justin Schultz and Nick Jensen), the Capitals learned that Nicklas Backstrom and TJ Oshie would not suit up against the New Jerseys due to a non-COVID illness, meaning Michael Sgarbossa and Daniel Sprong will get back into the lineup. Ilya Samsonov gets the start against MacKenzie Blackwood.
The Capitals, who only have $200k left in cap space, also sent Aliaksei Protas back to Hershey.
The Capitals are fighting for first place in the Metro (tied with Carolina) while the seventh-place Devils are 3-6-1 in their last 10.
Watch along with us on NBC Sports Washington.
