Ducks Sign Viktor Fasth to Two-Year Contract Extension

[NJDevils17]

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed goaltender Viktor Fasth to a two-year contract extension through the 2014-15 NHL season. Per club policy, no financial terms of the deal were disclosed.

“Viktor has proven himself not only this year in the NHL, but the previous two seasons as the top goaltender in Sweden,” said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray. “We are pleased to be able to keep him and feel fortunate to have two top NHL goaltenders going forward.”

Fasth, 30 (8/8/82), has appeared in nine contests for Anaheim this season, posting a perfect 8-0-0 record (one no decision) with a 1.78 goals-against average (GAA) and a .933 save percentage (SV%). The 6-0, 186-pound netminder is just the third goaltender in NHL history to win his first eight-or-more career decisions (also Ray Emery with Ottawa, an NHL record 9-0-0 from 2003-05 and Bob Froese with Philadelphia, 8-0-0 in Jan. 1983). Co-leading the NHL in wins, Fasth also ranks sixth in GAA and tied for seventh in SV%. He recorded his first career shutout at Colorado on Feb. 6, stopping all 31 shots he faced in a 3-0 decision. Signed as a free agent on May 21, 2012, Fasth made his NHL debut on Jan. 26, making 19 saves in a 3-2 shootout win over Nashville at Honda Center.

A native of Kalix, Sweden, Fasth was named the Swedish Elite League’s (SEL) Goaltender of the Year (Honken Trophy) for both the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, becoming the first goalie to do so since Henrik Lundqvist (Vastra Frolunda, 2002-2005). He played the 2011-12 regular season with AIK Stockholm, recording five shutouts with a 23-16-6 record, a 2.12 GAA and .931 SV% in 46 games. He ranked third among SEL goaltenders in SV%, second in shutouts and tied for third in wins. Fasth also played in six games for Team Sweden at the 2012 IIHF World Championship in Finland and Sweden, going 4-2 with a 2.34 GAA and .902 SV%.

Fasth began his international career at the 2011 World Championship in Slovakia, helping lead his country to the championship game and an eventual silver medal. Along with a 6-1 record, three shutouts and a 1.71 GAA, Fasth led tournament goaltenders with a .946 SV% en route to being named the tournament’s MVP and top goaltender. He made his SEL debut with AIK Stockholm in 2010-11, posting a 22-12-8 record while registering two shutouts, a 2.26 GAA and .924 SV% in 42 games. He was named the SEL Player of the Year (Golden Puck award) in 2010-11 and won his first Honken Trophy as the Goaltender of the Year.

[NJDevils17]

Anyone who makes a pun along the lines of "That was Fasth!" gets perma-banned just so we're clear.

[63Impala]

In the entire time I have followed the NHL, that was by far, hands down, the Fasth est extension ever handed out. Not even 10 games nets 3 million, I wish that woud happen to me, and Fasth.