New Jersey Devils extend Vitek Vanecek

The 26-year-old put pen to paper on a three-year deal worth $3.4 million per.

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New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has checked an item off his to-do list, signing goaltender Vitek Vanecek to a three-year contract extension worth $3.4 million per season.

Vanecek will make $3.55 million in his debut season with the Devils, $3.75 million in 2023-24, and $2.90 million in 2024-25.

He will be an unrestricted free agent upon expiry, which is why you’re seeing more money up front rather than at the tail end. There’s no need to backload in preparation for a boosted qualifying offer.

This three-year extension comes just a day after the deadline for players to file for salary arbitration. Obviously, a hearing will no longer be necessary.

As for the contract itself, I am a fan. Vitek Vanecek has posted a .908 save percentage in consecutive seasons while appearing in ~40 games per. Those are above average surface-level numbers; league average was .902 this past season.

While manning the crease for an experienced, and structured, Washington Capitals team obviously helped Vanecek’s cause, it’s not as if he relied solely on low percentage shots to boost his numbers.