Capitals sign goaltender Braden Holtby to US$30.5-million, five-year deal

WASHINGTON - The Washington Capitals signed goaltender Braden Holtby to a US$30.5-million, five-year contract on Friday.
Holtby and the Capitals had an arbitration hearing on Thursday.
Like P.K. Subban and the Montreal Canadiens a year ago, a deal was reached before the arbitrator ruled.

Holtby had a career season with 41 victories, a 2.22 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and nine shutouts in 73 games.
The 25-year-old Lloydminster, Sask., native will count $6.1 million against the salary cap over the next five seasons.
That gives Holtby the seventh-highest cap hit among NHL goalies next season, behind only the New York Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist, Columbus Blue Jackets' Sergei Bobrovsky, Boston Bruins' Tuukka Rask, Nashville Predators' Pekka Rinne, Montreal Canadiens' Carey Price and Carolina Hurricanes' Cam Ward.
"Braden emerged as a top NHL goaltender and we are pleased to sign him to a long-term contract,” Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said in a statement. "We feel Braden is just entering his prime and in his young career has already established himself as one of the best goaltenders in the history of our franchise."
Holtby is a candidate to join Price on Canada's team at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.