Jurcina avoids arbitration

The Washington Capitals have re-signed defenseman Milan Jurcina to a two-year contract, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. In keeping with club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Jurcina, 24, completed his second NHL season in 2006-07. He played 91 career games with the Boston Bruins before being acquired by the Capitals on Feb. 1, 2007, in exchange for a conditional draft pick.

— Washington Capitals

Jurcina had a pretty good abbreviated stint with Washington to close the year and is the second player to avoid arbitration today (after Derek Roy received his six-year, $24-million deal).

He was scheduled to go before an arbiter on Monday along with Michael Ryder and Sean Avery, who could now be the first big names to receive a ruling.