Capitals Trade Tomas Vokoun to Penguins
 

The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired goaltender Tomas Vokoun from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2012 seventh-round draft pick, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.

The Penguins then signed Vokoun to a two-year contract worth an average annual value of $2 million. Vokoun’s contract begins with the 2012-13 season and runs through the 2013-14 campaign.

Vokoun, 35, recently completed his 13th NHL season with Washington, posting a 25-17-2 record, 2.51 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and four shutouts in 48 games. One of Vokoun’s shutouts was a 30-save performance in a 1-0 victory over the Penguins on Jan. 11 at the Verizon Center.

A native of Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, Vokoun’s 25 victories this season marked the ninth-straight season he has surpassed the 20-win plateau. During that span, Vokoun has topped 25 wins seven times, including three seasons when he has posted 30-plus victories.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Vokoun enters the 2012-13 season ranked sixth among active netminders with 287 career victories – leaving him 13 shy of becoming just the 31st goaltender in NHL history to reach 300 career wins.

Vokoun has appeared in 401 games since the NHL returned from the lockout in 2005-06, the eight-highest total during that span, while also posting 36 shutouts – an average of 5.1 per season. Over the last four seasons, the two-time NHL All-Star (2004, ’08) has posted a .923 save percentage.

Originally drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the ninth round (226th overall) of the 1994 NHL Draft, Vokoun has a career record of 287-284-78, along with a 2.55 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and 48 shutouts in 680 games with Montreal, Nashville, Florida and Washington.

Vokoun has also starred internationally on several occasions for his native Czech Republic. Last spring, Vokoun went 7-1 with a 1.57 goals-against average while helping the Czechs win the 2010 World Championship. He also led the Czechs to a gold medal at the 2005 World Championship, during which he went 7-1 with a 1.08 goals-against average. At the 2006 Turino Olympic Games, Vokoun backstopped the Czechs to a bronze medal.

They then signed him to a 2-year, $4 million contract. Way too much money for a backup. But he is decent enough and has enough of a pedigree to push Fleury, which I think is the reason he was brought in. Fleury had a good season up until the end and into the playoffs, then somehow forgot how to stop a puck. That's why I don't think he's an elite goalie yet - he really hasn't played well in the playoffs since 2009 (and wasn't all that great then either, at least compared to 2008), and that's where you earn your money. Plus, he shouldn't have to play as much as he has been with Vokoun getting a fair amount of starts. At one point, Fleury played 22 of 23 games and 18 in a row (I think). That's way too much.

what's this say about the franchise's confidence in the flower then?
guy is a Vet, but they could have kept Johnny for a 3rd of that salary

So does Brent Johnson goto Scranton, or are they going to shop him around this off-season?

Johnson is a UFA.

Love the trade and the signing. Just awesome that we get him and it gives MAF a break. I don't get the whole arguement against Fleury, and no they are not trading him. He has done better than some are giving him credit for, the problem is he tends to take some really bad dips in performance and then there are other stretches where he looks unbeatable.

The draw against the Flyers with that sieve of a defense was a bad thing for him. His confidence and consistency are the two things he needs to improve upon and he will with a bit more rest.

Good move by the Penguins. They got a veteran that is going to push Fleury. He has the potential to be a starting netminder, that could give Fleury a push.

I think this deal should work out well for the Penguins. Vokoun will push Fleury and could definitely take over as their #1 guy if Fleury gets cold. This should be a nice 1-2 punch for Pittsburgh.

Problem is that he can push Fleury so well that he can become Pittsburgh´s starting goalie, believe me

Love it! Fleury is so overrated. What was his save percentage ranking last year, 20 something. Now if we could dump his overpaid ass for a winger and find another solid goalie on the cheap we'll be good.

You say you don't get the argument against Fleury, then in the next sentence point out the argument against him. He's too inconsistent, and to agree with 87 - overrated, IMO. He can't have hot and cold stretches like that - the best goalies are consistently good from start to finish. And not performing when it matters the most - in the postseason - doesn't help his cause. I don't have nearly as much faith in him as I used to, and he's going to have to show the fans that he can get the job done. No, the terrible defense didn't help him, but how long can you use that as an excuse?

I don't know many goalies who can constantly be good from the start to the end. Lundqvist and Quick are pretty much the only ones this year.

Even the top tier goalies like Thomas, for example, have bad streches during a season.

Yeah but when Fluery is bad.He's really bad.And he's a head case...If you ask me he's been way too comfortable in his role as the franchise goalie,and he really hasn't been pushed at all.Maybe when he was younger,but not recently.Vokoun I think changes that dynamic.Good move by the Pens.It will push Fleury,and give him some much needed rest during the season.And assuming the Pens make the playoffs and he totally sucks a$$.Then I have more confidence putting Vokoun in than Johnson...

Oh, I agree with this. Vokoun will give Fleury a push. I think Vokoun could even take the starting spot if Fleury becomes really bad.

Don't like spending $7M on two goalies, but whatever. I hope this kicks MAF in the ass, but I think I would've canned goalie coach Gilles Meloche first. Dude has done zilch for Fleury.