Washington Capitals extend Michael Neuvirth
The Washington Capitals have agreed to a two-year extension worth $2.3 million with goaltender Michael Neuvirth. The 22-year-old will play out the final year of his entry level contract this season.
Neuvirth was drafted 34th overall by the Capitals in the second round of the 2006 National Hockey League entry draft. After being selected, Neuvirth was sent back to junior where he spent his final season split between the Ontario Hockey League’s
Plymouth Whalers, Windsor Spitfires and Oshawa Generals.
The following season, Neuvirth faced a similar fate as he was spread around the Capitals organization, playing five games for Washington, as well as spending time with the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears and the East Coast Hockey League’s South Carolina
Stingrays. The Czech Republic native was able to put up strong numbers in the AHL and ECHL and was rewarded with a spot on the Hershey Bears in 2009-10, while also seeing some time in the NHL.
Extending Neuvirth was an important move for general manager George McPhee, as he is widely regarded as one of the franchises top prospects. This season Neuvirth will enjoy his first full year in the NHL, expected to split time with Semyon Varlamov.
After the Capitals brass elected to not re-sign Jose Theodore in the off-season it became clear that the organization was shifting towards youth between the pipes. Although the move to make Varlamov the starter was expected for the 2010-11 campaign, the
decision to pencil Neuvirth in as the back-up was a shock. Both net-minders have seen limited NHL action and therefore there is a good chance the Capitals could be scrambling for an experienced tender early in the season. However, it has been made clear that
the youngsters will get several chances to succeed.
Last season with the Capitals, Neuvirth played in 17 games, recording nine wins, with a save-percentage of .914 and a goals-against-average of 2.75.
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