Ducks extend Hiller's contract.
The Ducks have identified their goalie of the future, signing Jonas Hiller to a four-year, $18 million extension announced today. The 27-year-old will make $4.5 million in each year of the contract.
The contract comes after a quick three-year ascension for Hiller in the NHL, in which he took over the number one mantle from Jean-Sebastien Giguere, led the Ducks into the second round of the playoffs last season, and now will be paid like a starting goalie.
Since the Ducks signed Hiller as a free agent out of the Swiss Elite League, only Boston's Tim Thomas (.9244) and Florida's Tomas Vokoun (.9241) have a better save percentage than Hiller (.9192). He's just ahead of Roberto Lunogo, Martin Brodeur and Ryan Miller on that list.
This season he is 21-15-2 with a 2.75 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. Like the rest of his teammates, those numbers have gotten better as the Ducks have turned their season around.
"We had a lot of new players and never found a way to play 60 minutes," Hiller said. "There is a lot of talent on this team. I was able to be a factor in that process."
Hiller said that Giguere was the first teammate he told about his new contract -- "that's the honesty me and Jiggy have," he said -- and doesn't expect it will hamper their relationship as teammates. Giguere is under contract through the end of 2011, but holds a no-trade clause and has made it clear he does not want to be a backup goaltender.
If Hiller continues to play like a starter, it will be difficult for Giguere to regain the No. 1 mantle in Anaheim anytime soon -- specifically, through 2014.
"I almost feel sad to sign an extension, knowing I'll be around four more years," Hiller said. "(Giguere) is always supportive of me."
About J.P.
J.P. Hoornstra has been covering the Anaheim Ducks since 2007. Eight months after the University of Wisconsin won its third NCAA hockey championship, he was born in a frigid Madison winter. He betrayed his blue-blooded beginnings by graduating from UCLA in 2003, and welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
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