Holtby signs two-year contract with Canucks

The 31-year-old goalie was 25-14-6 with a 3.11 goals-against average and .897 save percentage in 48 games (47 starts) for the Washington Capitals last season. He was 2-6 with a 2.49 GAA and .906 save percentage in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games.

“Obviously I never went through this before,” Holtby said. “It’s very different, but there’s a lot of things to factor in. My two kind of things I was looking for was a place where there’s an extremely good chance of winning.

“It’s going to be a good fit for my family, and being closer out West is something that was very intriguing for us as our kids get older and such and a chance to win and a good team and good Canadian city. That can be really exciting and I think that’s a part of the reasons, so I’m looking forward to really get things rolling.”
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Selected by Washington in the fourth round (No. 93) of the 2008 NHL Draft, Holtby is 282-122-46 with a 2.53 GAA, .916 save percentage and 35 shutouts in 468 games (458 starts) during 10 seasons with Washington.

Holtby is second on the Capitals all-time wins list behind Olaf Kolzig (301) and tied for first in shutouts with Kolzig.

Holtby went 16-7 with a 2.16 GAA, .922 save percentage and two shutouts in 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help Washington win the Stanley Cup in 2018; he is 50-47 with a 2.13 GAA, .926 save percentage and seven shutouts in 97 playoff games.

“I think we accomplished what we wanted to do there,” Holtby said. “We won a championship and I think that’s something you can never take away, and something that is very important to that city, to the organization, to my time there. We did really accomplish what we wanted to and now this year coming up, I think it was just time to move that drive and that energy into new things.

“I think that’s why it was very important for me to find a team that has that same chance and that same structure of an organization and team that they can win because that’s what you play it for, and I think that’s the opportunity that we have in Vancouver. That is very exciting to me.”

A two-time Vezina Trophy finalist, Holtby won the award in 2015-16 when he went 48-9-7, tying the NHL record for wins in one season, with a 2.20 GAA, .922 save percentage and three shutouts in 66 games. He made the NHL First All-Star team that season and made the Second All-Star Team in 2016-17 when he also won the Jennings Trophy (fewest goals allowed).

“We are pleased to add Braden, an experienced and established goaltender, to our roster,” Canucks general manager Jim Benning said. “Braden is a Stanley Cup champion, brings leadership and has demonstrated the ability to rise to the occasion in big games. He will be an important part of our team.”