Capitals to sign Henrik Lundqvist to one-year deal

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Capitals sign Henrik Lundqvist to one-year deal worth $1.5 million

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 10/9/20

The Washington Capitals aren't expected to re-sign goaltender Braden Holtby, but it appears they have a plan in place to sign another veteran goaltender in his place.

According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, the Capitals are going to sign Henrik Lundqvist to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million.

If, as expected, the one-year deal is $1.5M, it would be fitting. That would make Lundqvist “whole” on $4.5M salary he was scheduled to get for 20-21. $3M of it would be in his buyout from the Rangers (paid out over two years) but $1.5M would top him back up to $4.5M total.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) October 9, 2020

Lundqvist was recently bought out by the New York Rangers and plans to continue playing despite being 38-years-old. The former Rangers netminder could split time in the crease with Ilya Samsonov.

The past two seasons haven't been kind for Lundqvist, who won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender during the 2011-12 season. In 82 games played over the last two years, Lundqvist owns a 3.12 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.

While he wasn't able to find his groove with the Rangers over the last few seasons, he could potentially perform better with the Capitals, who have a far better squad.

With Lundqvist likely coming off the board, Jacob Markstrom, Anton Khudobin and Corey Crawford are still among the goaltenders looking for a new deal.

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