Witt

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Capitals re-signed Brendan Witt, one of the NHL's hardest-hitting defenseman, to a three-year contract Friday.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Witt, 26, is entering his seventh season with the Capitals and often is compared to New Jersey Devils All-Star Scott Stevens, who spent the first eight years of his career in Washington.

Witt missed 10 games last season with a separated shoulder, but still led the team with 207 hits and was second on the club in blocked shots with 103. He had three goals and three assists, a plus-2 rating and 101 penalty minutes.

The 6-foot-1, 223-pounder led the NHL with 322 hits and had a plus-5 rating in 1999-2000.

A 1993 first-round choice, Witt has 12 goals, 27 assists and 359 penalty minutes in 359 career games.