According to reports the Vancouver Canucks have signed goaltender Braden Holtby two-year deal worth $8.6 million. The contract carries a salary-cap hit of $4.3 million
The Vancouver Canucks have signed UFA goalie Braden Holtby to a 2-year, $8.6M contract ($4.3M AAV).
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) October 9, 2020
Braden Holtby Signs Vancouver Canucks
Holtby is coming off a five-year contract that he originally signed back in July of 2015 worth $30.5 million. This contract carried a cap hit of $6.1 million. Holtby was drafted by the Washington Capitals fourth round, 93rd overall in the 2008 NHL Draft. While the teams may have failed in the playoffs, Holtby played outstanding. Even though he did not start the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Holtby came in and settled things down for his team. guided to the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. In addition, Holtby won a Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goalie in 2016. He also won the William Jennings Trophy with the Capitals in 2017 having one of the lowest goals-against averages in the league along with Sergei Bobrovsky.
For his career, Holtby has appeared in 468 games, starting 458 games with a record of 282-122-46. In addition, he has a 2.53 goals-against average and .916 save percentage. His playoff numbers are slightly better. In 97 games, he has a 2.13 goals-against average with a .926 save percentage. Of those 97 games, Holtby has started 96 of them with a record of 50-46. This was a down year for Holtby splitting time with Ilya Samsonov. Holtby’s numbers were the worst of his career. He finished with a 3.11 goals-against average and .897 save percentage. Those numbers are just poor compared to his standards.
Going Forward
With Holtby going to Team X, he will again have the chance to be the starter. Splitting time and giving way to the youngster in Washington was not his cup of tea. Holtby still has a lot left in the tank for being a 31-year old goaltender. While he may be on the decline he still has a few more years left to prove to the hockey world he is not over the hill just yet. Besides adding a veteran goaltender with a championship pedigree is never a bad thing.
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