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With two-year contract extension, Coyotes expect Domingue to ‘take that next step’

Louis Domingue

Arizona Coyotes’ Louis Domingue waves to the crowd after the Coyotes’ NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. Domingue earned his first NHL shutout as the Coyotes won 1-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

AP

When all was said and done, the Arizona Coyotes didn’t get very good goaltending last season. They finished with a team save percentage of just .904, one of the lowest rates in the league.

That being said, they did get one very good stretch in December and January from Louis Domingue, and for that he was given a two-year, $2.1 million contract extension.

Now Domingue, 24, is out to prove he’s for real.

“Being a 24-year-old goalie in this league is an honor,” Domingue told the Arizona Republic. “Not every goalie gets up here this fast. I’m taking it one day at a time, and it happened to me. Putting in the work and not looking too far ahead, it worked out. I’m here now, so I’m going to keep pushing the same way.”

The Coyotes still have Mike Smith under contract for three more years. As former GM Don Maloney put it, they’re “married” to him, at a cap hit of $5.7 million to boot.

Smith, 34, went 15-13-2 with a .916 save percentage last season, and he actually played very well after returning in mid-March from abdominal surgery.

So it should be an interesting battle for playing time between the young netminder and the veteran.

“He’s been solid,” GM John Chayka said of Domingue. “It looked like he had a good summer and came in in good shape. … I expect him to take that next step. Louis’ got the talent to do it. It’s now doing it.”