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Vokoun signs with Caps for one year, $1.5M

Posted on: July 2, 2011 6:18 pm
Edited on: July 2, 2011 7:28 pm
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The Washington Capitals have signed Tomas Vokoun to a one-year contract. Scott Burnside of espn.com reports the deal is wort $1.5 million.

Vokoun was the top goalie available on the free-agent market and seemed destined to go to Colorado if he didn't re-sign with the Florida Panthers. When the Cats signed Jose Theodore, it seemed like it was just a matter of time before the Avs signed the veteran goaltender.

Apparently turned off by Vokoun's asking price, the Avs moved on by trading for Semyon Varlamov -- from the Capitals -- and signing Jean-Sebastien Giguere to back him up. That left the question lingering: where would Vokoun sign?

The Capitals had a trio of young goaltenders up until yesterday in Varlamov, Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby. When they shipped Varlamov -- who was close to going to the KHL -- most assumed the Caps would go with the duo of Neuvirth and Holtby. Instead, they sign Vokoun -- at a very cheap rate, mind you -- to come in and help the youngsters while trying to help the Capitals advance deeper in the playoffs.

"He's been on teams with no chance to win for a very long time," Vokoun's agent Michael Deutsch said. "The opportunity to compete for a Stanley Cup means a great deal to him."

In his 13 seasons spent between the Panthers, Nashville Predators and one game with the Montreal Canadiens, Vokoun has only appeared in five playoff games. That's partly because of the teams he has had in front of him. Vokoun has continually put up one of the better save percentages in the NHL, last year posting a .922 percentage in Florida.

Signing him at such a low price considering his status as the elite and perhaps even  the only full-time starting goaltender available, is no risk for the Caps. For Vokoun, it's a significantly lower salary than I'm sure he expected to command.

By Brian Stubits

Photo: Getty Images

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Category: NHL
Tags: 2011 Free Agency, Braden Holtby, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Michael Neuvirth, Semyon Varlamov, Tomas Vokoun, Washington Capitals
 
Comments
kkjyywlpo
Since: Dec 2, 2011
Posted on: December 16, 2011 7:14 am
This comment has been removed.

Post Deleted by Administrator

Since: Apr 3, 2009
Posted on: July 4, 2011 3:09 pm
 

Vokoun signs with Caps for one year, $1.5M

facerake7-Dude, let me be the one to break it to you, because you obviously didn't watch this years playoffs..Howard was the reason we got as far as we did. Howard is good, still allows the occasional softie, but will only get better with the experience and confidence he's gained this postseason. For example, Halak never has a great regular season, but stonewalls in the playoffs, i'll take that over your Luongo's any day. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: #333333;">You simply don't pass up a chance to pick up a solid veteran goalie on the cheap. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: #333333;">No, you dont, so if he wanted to sit on the bench then MAYBE HE WOULD BE A WING! What the hell do u not get about that? You simply don't throw a young goalie to the curb who held his team on his shoulders and sign a 35 year old goalie who has never played in a big market and has never started a playoff game! You have to take all aspects into account and you seem a little too short minded to look at the big picture. Vokoun would have put us back in the discussion. Lol we are in the discussion every year bozo, where the hell have u been????  As it stands, the Wings remain a second round playoff team, at best. Maybe in your world, but in reality, as it stands, there isn't a single team in the West this Wings team can't beat.

Since: Dec 3, 2006
Posted on: July 4, 2011 1:55 pm
 

Vokoun signs with Caps for one year, $1.5M

Wow I'm almost speechless w/this signing & by the way Vokoun is a STEAL for 1.5 million????? What?????? I don't see Neuvirth getting the starting nod despite a worthless money amount Vokoun signed for in a FREE AGENT MARKET?????!!!!!???? Disbelief-Discouraging-Disappointme

nt!!!!! Moving injury prone Varly & keeping Neuvirth & Holtby was smart but throwing a Top Elite Verteran Goalie in the mix isn't gonna be a "Turco Rejob"-Disappointment. Vokoun should get bulk of games no doubt in my mind maybe 55-65 games if not full netminder. This signing for 1-year only sparks a bigger/better signing. Maybe in Vokoun's mind he wasn't asking for much & that he's not about the money but winning the Cup is what matter most to him for now. At least he'll have support for once in his career. Last year's Florida Panthers in my mind were a 28-30th ranked team overall as a team. W/out looking at records since the fallout dismembering of the Colorado Avs as the worst team I'd prolly rank Florida in a tie w/Ottawa. Edmonton, NY Isles weren't as bad as their record showed cause they did have more depth as a team. I'm disappointed he went to Washington instead of Minnesota or Tampa Bay, YoWell! I wish him the best cause in my mind no doubt he's a Top-5 if not 3 Goalie in this League w/Rinne, Thomas, Bryz & Lundqvist



Since: Jan 3, 2011
Posted on: July 4, 2011 12:17 pm
 

Vokoun signs with Caps for one year, $1.5M

vut315, DUDE, sorry to be the one to break it to you, but Howard just ain't that good right now and he probably won't be good enough in the near future to deliver a Cup to our aging core of forwards.  For years, Greg Stefan was our goalie.  For years, Tim Cheveldae was our goalie.  Remember Manny Legace?  How many Cups did we win with those guys?  Howard is in the same league as all of them.  You simply don't pass up a chance to pick up a solid veteran goalie on the cheap.  Vokoun would have put us back in the discussion.  As it stands, the Wings remain a second round playoff team, at best.

Since: Feb 12, 2008
Posted on: July 4, 2011 10:09 am
 

Vokoun signs with Caps for one year, $1.5M

Gordo to the Coyotes..... I missed that one.. that says I've been working too much lately..oh well a long time Cap, good blue collar guy will be missed in DC

Since: Apr 3, 2009
Posted on: July 4, 2011 1:17 am
 

Vokoun signs with Caps for one year, $1.5M

Facerake7-Dude, HOWARD is our goalie. We have committed to him. If Voukoun wants to watch the Wings win the cup from the bench then hell yea bring him on but he doesnt. He wants to be on the ice and thats not gonna happen because Howard is our goalie. Its as simple as that. If howie had a bad postseason to go along with is bad regular season then maybe Vokoun would be a Wing right now but he proved he is capable of being a big game goalie and that's what we wanted to see. Lets not forget he only has 2 seasons under his belt, he will only progress from here on out and im happy we got him and thats that!

Since: Feb 3, 2011
Posted on: July 3, 2011 8:18 pm
 

Vokoun signs with Caps for one year, $1.5M

I can't believe he signed for only $1.5 mil. He is every bit the goalie that Bryz is and Bryz got a long-term deal at more than 3x this. Crazy. The goaltending at the top of the Eastern Conference is crazy good now.

Since: Feb 4, 2008
Posted on: July 3, 2011 2:52 pm
 

Vokoun signs with Caps for one year, $1.5M

Also Pens_StanleyCup, I appreciate the Caps compliments and the McPhee concession.  I like what you guys have done as well.

Since: Feb 4, 2008
Posted on: July 3, 2011 2:50 pm
 

Vokoun signs with Caps for one year, $1.5M

Hey Pens_StanleyCup, whats up?  I will get to that eventually lol.

I said that I liked we got him for cheap.  And he is a good veteran presence and can mentor Neuvy   

Since: Feb 17, 2011
Posted on: July 3, 2011 2:40 pm
 

Vokoun signs with Caps for one year, $1.5M

Skyline who does this make no sense yo you this is the best free agent signing so far of any player, if you don't get signing a solid vet goalie you might not understand hockey. Nuevy like Varly has had injuries problems and Holtby needs another year of playing time not being a back up and maybe getting 25 games.  @Synder Boyd Gordan is gone so you might wanta take him off "you depth chart"
 
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