Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday acquired
the rights to goaltender Tomas Vokoun from the Washington Capitals in exchange
for a seventh-round pick in the upcoming draft.
Then, moving quickly because the veteran netminder was set to become an
unrestricted free agent on July 1, the Pens also signed him to a two-year
contract.
Vokoun finished 25-17-2 with a 2.51 goals-against average and .916 save
percentage in 48 games with the Caps last season, his first with the
franchise.
The 35-year-old saw his season cut short in late March due to a groin injury,
and backup Michal Neuvirth's injury problems caused prospect Braden Holtby to
assume the starting role in the playoffs.
Vokoun should be able to provide the Penguins a secondary answer in the crease
for starter Marc-Andre Fleury, who tied a career high by appearing in 67 games
a season ago.
The native of the Czech Republic carries a 287-284-78 record, 2.55 GAA and
.917 save percentage in 680 NHL games with Montreal, Nashville, Florida and
Washington.
Fleury, who backstopped the franchise to a Stanley Cup three years ago, went
42-17-4 with a 2.36 GAA in the regular season, but stumbled to a 2-4 mark and
4.63 GAA in a six-game first-round playoff loss to Philadelphia.
Brent Johnson -- another former Washington Capital -- had served as Fleury's
backup for the last three campaigns and is also an unrestricted free agent
come July 1.
The Sports Network