BREAKING: Caps sign Mike Green to three-year deal

A day after Defenseman Mike Green rejected the tender offer from the Washington Capitals, Green and the Caps have agreed to a new three-year deal valued at $18.25 million.

The deal is a pretty big deal fro Green considering that he has been injury prone the last two seasons.  The deal will average out to a little over $6 million per season.  Green's two big seasons came in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010.  In 2007-08, Green began establishing himself as a top offensive minded defenseman, racking up 56 points, with 18 goals and 36 assists.  A season later, Green put up 73 points, including 31 goals and 42 assists.  Of the 31 goals, Green contributed a whopping 18 power play tallies.  In 2009/10, Green solidified his role as one of the top offensive minded defenseman in the League, recording a career high 76 points, that included 19 goals and 57 assists.   He also garnered the reputation of tallying game winners in overtime for the Capitals.

After that season, Green has been plagued the past two season with a series of injuries.  In 2010-11, Green played in 459 of the 82 season games because of nagging injuries and his production fell from 76 points the prior season to just 24 points with a mere 8 goals.  Think that is bad?  Last season was even worse for Green.  Green managed to play in justor21 games and only scored 7 points with a barely recordable 3 goals.

The fact that the last two season have been injury plagued and un-productive for Green is what raises the eye brow at a $6 million per year number for Green.  Additionally, as the Caps began transitioning to a more defensive approach to hockey play, at times, Green simply looked out of place. Since the hiring of Adam Oates as new bench boss in DC, it appears the Caps will continue to emphasize defense, but not as tightly so as former Caps coach Dale Hunter.  Oates has indicated a willingness to open up offensively.  You woudl hope and assume that a new three-year deal signed and agreed to by the Caps must indicate that Green is finally returning to full health.