Sweep of NHL free agency for 25 July 2015 Holtby finds payday in Washington

In NHL free agency, there were few moves but one shift in location has 26-year old defenseman Ryan Stanton moving from the Vancouver Canucks to the Washington Capitals for the coming season. Stanton signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Caps.

In 54 games with the Canucks last season, Stanton picked up a career high three goals to go along with eight assists. He was also third on the team in hits and blocked shots.

In a rare move this free agent season, Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving signed forward Lance Bouma to a three-year deal.

In 78 games with the no longer upstart Flames, Bouma picked up 16 goals and 34 points.

The even rarer event of the season was the five-year deal between the Capitals and their star goalie, Braden Holtby.

“Since Day One I’ve wanted to be the guy in the Washington Capitals net, since I got drafted by them,” Holtby, 25, said on NHL.com. “It doesn’t change. I’m just happy to have the opportunity and like in the past I know I still have to prove it.”

The deal is worth $30.5 million and is the first goalie contract for more than three years since 2001 when the Caps signed Olaf Kolzig.

“You see what he accomplished last year and the effect he’s had on our team,” Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said on NHL.com. “He’s a perfect fit for what we think we have. He’s a good teammate, a good person, and I think he’s just touching the surface of what he could become. I think the certainty of having him in our lineup over the next — whatever time we have, the window to win a championship — is why we’re excited about signing him today.”