“Opportunity to play lots of games” – Vitek Vanecek signs three-year contract with New Jersey Devils, avoids arbitration hearing
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Vitek Vanecek
Czech ice hockey goalie Vitek Vanecek signed a three-year, $10.2 million contract (average annual value of $3.4 million) with the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. The 26-year-old Vanecek, who was acquired in a trade with the Washington Capitals on July 8, was a restricted free agent and avoided a salary arbitration hearing.
The Havlickuv Brod native Vitek was 20-12-6 with a 2.67 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and four shutouts in 42 games for the Capitals last season.
“It feels really good,” Vanecek said, as quoted by NHL.com. “They have a future, they have a lot of young guys. There is an opportunity for me to play lots of games. I’m really happy about that.
“New Jersey is a young team and they have a future. It’s really nice. I hope we get far and get to the Stanley Cup with New Jersey.”
“We’re fortunate to land Vitek this morning”
Selected by Washington in the second round (No. 39) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Vanecek is 41-22-10 with a 2.68 GAA, .908 save percentage and six shutouts in 79 regular-season games.
“That was our goal from the get-go was to add to the position because of the circumstance with injuries and really depleting our depth, to be frank,” Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said on July 8. “We don’t want to go through that again. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. However, it’s been a goal from the get-go and there are options and options get limited, so then you’re trying to find really what’s best and you got to put your best foot forward and make a deal for a guy, and we’re fortunate to land Vitek this morning.”
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