Capitals sign Mike Green to three-year extension

Shortly after he rejected their qualifying offer, Mike Green signed a three-year, $18.25 million contract extension with the Washington Capitals on Monday. The skilled defenseman will earn $6 million in 2012-13 and 2013-14 and $6.25 million in 2014-15.

"We are pleased to re-sign Mike Green to a new contract," Caps general manager George McPhee said in a statement. "Mike is one of the best young defensemen in the National Hockey League and is just entering his prime. He will continue to be a key part of our team moving forward."

Green, 26, had three goals and four assists and was plus-5 in 32 games with the Capitals last season. He missed 47 regular-season games due to injury, but added two goals and two assists and a plus-5 rating in 14 postseason games with the Capitals, ranking second in points among Washington defensemen and tied for second on the team in playoff plus/minus.

The Calgary native has 251 points (82 goals, 169 assists) and a plus-62 rating in 398 career NHL games, all with Washington. He is one of just two active defensemen, along with Ottawa's Erik Karlsson, to have registered a 70-point season and is the only active defenseman to have recorded two seasons of 70 points or more.

Since the 2007-08 season, Green ranks fourth among NHL blueliners in points (236), second in goals (79) and first in points per game (0.77). The 6-foot-1, 207-pounder is a two-time member of the NHL First All-Star Team and is a two-time Norris Trophy runner-up. He was named to his first NHL All-Star Game in 2010-11.

He scored 31 goals in 2008-09, the most by a defenseman since 1983-84.

Green was originally drafted by Washington in the first round (No. 29) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.