The Washington Capitals bolstered their organizational goaltending depth Tuesday when they signed 18-year-old Vitek Vanecek to a three-year entry level contract.

A native of the Czech Republic, Vanecek was Washington's second-round pick (39th overall) in last month's NHL Draft and it's possible he could see time in net this season for the AHL's Hershey Bears.

According to CapGeek.com, Vanecek will make $70,000 playing in the minor leagues in 2014-15 and $692,500 in NHL salary should he spend time with the Caps.

Philipp Grubauer and recently acquired Eddie Pasquale are expected to form Hershey's tandem in net for the upcoming campaign. Vanecek will likely compete for playing time with the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays, the Caps/Bears' new affiliate. Rookie Pheonix Copley and Brandon Anderson are also in the netminding mix.

Vanecek posted a 2.64 goals-against average, 921 save percentage and two shutouts in 38 games with Billi Tygri Liberec of the Czech Republic's under-20 league this past season.

The 6-foot, 180-pound goalie represented his country at the 2014 IIHF U18 World Championship, where he went 4-2-0 record with a 2.74 GAA and .897 SvP as he helped the Czechs win a silver medal.

Vanecek was by NHL Central Scouting as the eighth-best European goalie available in the draft.

Washington also signed 2014 first-round draft pick Jakub Vrana to a three-year entry level contract Tuesday. The 18-year-old forward, also from the Czech Republic, was selected 13th overall. He spent the 2013-14 season with Linkoping of the Swedish Hockey League, splitting time between the senior team and junior team.

Vrana had two goals, an assist and two penalty minutes in 24 games with the senior team and posted 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) and 26 penalty minutes in 24 games with Linkoping's junior club.

Vrana, ranked fourth overall among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting, will be loaned by Washington back to Linkoping for the upcoming season.

CONTACT: dsottile@pennlive.com

ON TWITTER: @davesottile

