Pittsburgh Penguins sign Tomas Vokoun after trade with Washington Capitals -NHL Update
Pittsburgh Penguins were in dire need of a goalie to lighten the load of Marc-Andre Fleury. They finally made it happen in a trade with Washington Capitals as Penguins signed on veteran goaltender, Tomas Vokoun, to a two-year deal on Monday, June 4, 2012.
Penguins gave up their seventh-round selection for the up and coming 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft to Washington, which will take place later on this year.
Vokoun had expressed his desire to leave the Washington Capitals team after facing a season ending injury, which had him out of the playoffs as well. He also termed Braden Holtby the next big thing in Washington and there being no need for him on the team
anymore.
The two-year deal, which was announced by Pittsburgh Penguins general manager, Ray Shero, is reported to be worth $4 million.
Shero described the decision to be one that was based on the need for goaltending depth, something that really cost them big in the postseason as they were eliminated by Philadelphia Flyers right in the opening round.
"What we have found, and it's not hard to see, is that there's just a lack of goaltending depth that's available (in the NHL)," GM Ray Shero said on the Penguins' official website. "Instead of waiting until July 1, we identified Tomas and the chance to get
his rights, that made sense to us. A guy like that, with his experience, made sense to us.”
"This is to help Marc-Andre. It's to help his game," Shero added. "We still believe in Marc-Andre Fleury. He's one of the better goalies in the League. But the position is demanding, both physically and mentally.”
Vokoun was on a one-year contract with Washington Capitals worth $1.5 million. It was set to expire on July 1st of this year, but instead of waiting for that date to come, Pittsburgh secured themselves.
The 35-year-old goalie will become an unrestricted free agent by the end of the 2013-2014 NHL regular season.
With a .917 save percentage and 2.51 goals-against average this past season, Pittsburgh Penguins have landed themselves a top class goalie with vast experience in the league.
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