COLUMBUS, OHIO --- The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed goaltender Curtis McElhinney to a two-year contract extension through the 2016-17 season, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. As is club policy, terms were not disclosed.
McElhinney, 32, went 12-14-2 with a 2.88 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in 32 games during the 2014-15 season. He recorded career highs in victories, games played, minutes (1,710) and saves (867). He played in his 100th career NHL game on October 31, 2014 vs. Toronto and made a personal best 48 saves on a career-high 52 shots faced in a 5-4 shootout victory on April 11, 2015 at the NY Islanders. The netminder posted a 10-11-1 record with a 2.70 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and 639 saves in 28 games in 2013-14.
"We are pleased to have signed Curtis for the next two seasons," said Kekalainen. "He is a hard-working, high-caliber individual who provides the team with a veteran presence in goal and had played very well for us when called upon the past two seasons. We look forward to his continued contributions to the Blue Jackets both on and off the ice."
A native of London, Ontario, McElhinney has compiled a 22-25-3 record with a 2.80 goals against average, .912 save percentage and two shutouts in 60 games with Columbus since being acquired from the Phoenix Coyotes on February 22, 2012. He is 41-51-7 with a 2.95 goals against average, .905 save percentage and four shutouts in 129 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets, Coyotes, Ottawa Senators, Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames.
Calgary's ninth pick, 176th overall, in the 2002 NHL Draft, McElhinney also posted a 103-78-8 record with a 2.37 goals against average and .915 save percentage with 22 shutouts in 205 career AHL games with the Springfield Falcons, Portland Pirates, Quad-City Flames and Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights.
Prior to his professional career, he spent four seasons at Colorado College (WCHA) from 2001-05, compiling a 62-16-8 record, 2.32 goals against average, .912 save percentage and nine shutouts in 91 games. He was named an NCAA West First Team All-American as a senior in 2004-05 after backstopping the Tigers to the NCAA Frozen Four with a 21-4-1 record, 2.24 goals against average and .922 save percentage in 26 games.
