Capitals sign stud goalie to $2.3 million deal

This just in, the Washington Capitals have signed 24 year old goaltender Clay Stevenson to a three year contract worth $775,000 per season.

Check it out:

Stevenson has posted a 9-4-0 record with an incredible 1.70 goals against average, a .934 save percentage and four shutouts in 13 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) this season. Stevenson ranks first in the AHL in goals-against average and shutouts, second in save percentage, and tied for third in wins.

The undrafted native of Drayton Valley, Alberta has firmly cemented himself as the Capitals' third string netminder behind Darcy Kuemper and Charlie Lindgren and has proven that he has the chops to step up to the NHL if needed. He's one of the best, if not THE best, goaltenders in the AHL this season and he'll likely see some NHL action at some point during the 2023-24 campaign.

Read below for the press release announcement of Stevenson's signing from the Capitals' official website:

The Washington Capitals have re-signed goaltender Clay Stevenson to a three-year, $2.325 million contract, president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. The first year of Stevenson's contract will be a two-way contract ($750,000/$200,000), while the second and third years will be a one-way contract ($775,000).

Stevenson, 24, has posted a 9-4-0 record with a 1.70 goals-against average, a .934 save percentage and four shutouts in 13 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) this season. Stevenson ranks first in the AHL in goals-against average and shutouts, second in save percentage, and tied for third in wins.

The 6’4”, 185-pound goaltender appeared in 36 games for the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) last season, posting a record of 19-12-3 with a 2.54 goals-against average, a .916 save percentage and three shutouts. In addition, Stevenson had a 2-1-2 record with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage in five Kelly Cup Playoff games.

The Drayton Valley, Alberta native also appeared in three games with Hershey in 2022-23, going 3-0-0 with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. Stevenson made his AHL debut on Dec. 10, 2022 against the Cleveland Monsters, stopping 25 of 27 shots. In 16 career AHL games with Hershey, Stevenson has a record of 12-4-0 with a 1.75 goals-against average, a .932 save percentage and four shutouts.

The Capitals signed Stevenson to a two-year entry-level contract on March 28, 2022, following his sophomore season at Dartmouth College (NCAA). Stevenson earned six of Dartmouth’s seven wins during the 2021-22 season, leading the Big Green in wins, save percentage (.922), goals-against average (2.70) and shutouts (2). Stevenson posted a save percentage above .900 in all 23 games he played and his .922 save percentage was tied for second in the ECAC. Stevenson, who won the Phelan Award as Dartmouth’s MVP, was named to the 2021-22 All-Ivy First Team, the ECAC All-Rookie Team and the ECAC Third All-Star Team.