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Capitals re-sign Jason Chimera through 2016

(Evan Vucci/Associated Press)

(Evan Vucci/Associated Press)

Who knew earning NHL’s third star of the week honors could be so lucrative?

The Capitals announced Friday that they have re-signed 34-year-old forward Jason Chimera to a two-year extension that will pay him $2 million a year for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. The speedy left wing was the NHL’s third star of the week this week.

Chimera has five goals and six assists through 16 games this season, and has scored 45 goals and assisted on 62 more in 265 games for the Capitals since being traded to Washington from Columbus midway through the 2009-10 season.

Chimera made his NHL debut with the Oilers in the 2000-01 season, and became a full-time NHLer in 2002-03 when he played in 66 games and tallied 23 points for Edmonton. He’s played for three teams — Edmonton, Columbus, and Washington — and was also technically a Coyote during the lockout-lost 2004-05 season, though he never played a game for Phoenix. In 726 career NHL games he’s scored 126 goals, made 153 assists, and served 716 penalty minutes.

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