The Washington Capitals have re-signed goaltender Pheonix Copley to a three-year, $3.3 million extension, the team announced Tuesday.
Copley’s new contract will pay him an average annual salary of $1.1 million, and his new deal also outlasts starting netminder Braden Holtby’s current contract. He was set to become a free agent this summer.
In 16 starts this season, the 27-year-old rookie, who went undrafted, has gone 10-5-3, posting a 2.98 GAA and .903 save percentage.
Copley’s new contract sparks curiosity and intrigue. The extension could post to several possibilities in Washington’s future, from trade speculation involving an available goaltender to expansion draft options for 2021-22, when Seattle enters the league (this option would allow Washington to leave Copley exposed, as opposed to other options, such as Ilya Samsonov).