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Capitals GM on Holtby contract: 'I think we'll get it done'

Marc DesRosiers / USA Today

Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan says contract talks with goaltender Braden Holtby are headed in the right direction.

"We're negotiating," MacLellan told ESPN The Magazine's Craig Custance. "We're trying to get a good deal done for both parties. He's a priority for us. I think we'll get it done. It seems to be going the proper way in negotiations."

Holtby set a career high with 41 wins in 73 games, posting his best GAA (2.22) and save percentage (.923) since his rookie season.

McLellan told reporters last month that he would be willing to offer Holtby a long-term deal or a bridge contract if necessary.

He is one of three Capitals restricted free agents, along with forwards Evgeny Kuznetsov and Marcus Johansson.

"We have a cap we're working on, and you need to know how much you have to fill the holes you have," McLellan said. "We have some (unrestricted free-agent) guys too. We're not going to be able to afford all of them. We're going to have to allocate dollars to where we think it helps our team the most."

Among those UFAs is forward Joel Ward, who scored 19 goals in the regular season, added nine points in 14 playoff games, and carried a cap hit of $3 million in 2014-15.

Holtby signed a two-year contract extension with the Capitals in 2013.

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