What Vitek Vanecek’s Selection for Seattle Means for the Caps

In yesterday’s expansion draft, the Caps lost goaltender Vitek Vanecek to Seattle. With the pick, Vanecek became one of three netminders selected by the Kraken, including Joey Daccord from the Ottawa Senators and Chris Driedger of the Florida Panthers.

Vanecek was a crucial part of the Caps’ success as he battled Ilya Samsonov for the starting position throughout the season. In his rookie year, Vanecek boasted a .908 save percentage, two shutouts and twenty-one wins, the most among the Caps goaltenders.

For fans, it was known that Vanecek was at risk when the protected lists came out this past Sunday. The decision to protect Samsonov made it clear who had won the battle this season. Now the…