Capitals Sign Tomas Vokoun

by siempre_riquelme on Jul 2, 2011 7:10 PM EDT

The Capitals have signed the ex-Florida Panthers goaltender. 1 year, $1.5 million.

Not sure where the money will come from, but I'm not worrying about that right now. Right term, right price, though. And we know he still has something left in the tank. Welcome, Mr. Mentor.

Great quote from his agent:

"He’s been on teams with no chance to win for a very long time. The opportunity to compete for a Stanley Cup means a great deal to him."

Poll

Which Capitals goaltender starts Round 1, Game 1 in April?

Tomas Vokoun

100 votes

Michal Neuvirth

26 votes

Braden Holtby

2 votes

None of the above

1 votes

129 votes | Poll has closed

If this FanPost is written by someone other than one of the blog's editors, the opinions expressed in it do not necessarily reflect those of this blog or SB Nation.

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Comments

The obvious answer to the “where’s the money coming from?” question results in Semin being moved and/or Poti LTIR/Retirement, but possibly Schultz and/or Fehr being moved?

Eh, just speculation. Ignore this.

by TFG on Jul 2, 2011 7:13 PM EDT reply actions

Poti on LTIR

That has to be it, right? And Ted will just swallow the salary. In terms of moving Semin, I just can’t see what kind of return we can expect (and dropping $3 million-plus in terms of salary). Would need to be a first-rounder plus a cost-controlled top-6 RFA forward. Those are hard to come by.

Endavant, a triomfar, a guanyar Villarreal!

by siempre_riquelme on Jul 2, 2011 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions

i doubt schultz is being moved. I think it would be Fehr or chimmer

by j762 on Jul 2, 2011 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s my guess too. Moving Schultz would hurt the team, since we barely have enough defensive depth. We now have too many 3rd/4th liners.

My mind is all twtisted like a peanut.

by timmyv38 on Jul 4, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s the truth — on the defensive depth. I recalled back in Dec, after the post Hannan trade, when someone had proposed trading Schultz and Fehr for Brad Richards. I did some analysis on the deal, including the Cap space, pro-rated. My conclusion at the time said the Caps would have had a sick 2nd line but the defensive depth a little worse than pre-Hannan and shaky on the 3rd line.

Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.

by CapsFan75 on Jul 4, 2011 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ve been wondering about this. Putting him on LTIR doesn’t remove his cap hit though right? It was my understanding that it just potentially removes someone else’s cap hit who is added to the roster to play for him. If so I don’t see how it helps. Since several people have mentioned it though I could be wrong or missing something.

by lagomorph on Jul 2, 2011 7:22 PM EDT reply actions

You’re right that it doesn’t remove his cap hit—it allows the Caps to exceed the cap by the amount he’s counted against the cap during his LTIR period. Essentially, if he’s LTIRed all season, we gain back his entire cap hit.

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by red army line on Jul 2, 2011 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmm.. capgeek’s FAQ on LTIR confused me then. To me it reads as though it’s the addition of another player that determines what’s credited. Thanks.

by lagomorph on Jul 2, 2011 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I am a very jealous flyers fan.
You took lemons and made a lemonade that now has a legitimate shot of being served out of a giant silver cup.

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by Prometheus74 on Jul 2, 2011 7:33 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs

The new deal is a significant pay-cut for the two-time all-star, who is coming off a four year deal that paid him more than $22-million.

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Somebody wants to play some winning hockey

Is it just me, or does "It's never too early for ice cream" just not have the same ring as "It's a great day for hockey" ?

by Icebat on Jul 2, 2011 7:34 PM EDT reply actions

I have to think he’s the likely starter by April. GMGM knows that this move means he has to part with someone else. I doubt he does that for a backup.

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by Kolzilla on Jul 2, 2011 7:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Disagree. GMGM was going to have to spend money on a goalie. Any goalie. We only had three available – at the very least, they would’ve had to get a backup for D-Sabs in Hershey.

Fortunately, “any goalie” was Tomas Voukoun.

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by EmilyB on Jul 3, 2011 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

someone had nowhere else to go

by j762 on Jul 2, 2011 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Possibly, but not probably. He was a legitimate best of the rest and likely could have gotten either more money, or at least a two-year deal, or both somewhere else.

Whether he’s the starter for Game 1 of the playoffs over Neuvy as the early voters think, or not, I think another interesting question would be “Who will be in net for the Caps for their Last (playoff) game of this coming season”

Is it just me, or does "It's never too early for ice cream" just not have the same ring as "It's a great day for hockey" ?

by Icebat on Jul 2, 2011 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Florida offered Vokoun....

2 and 3 year deals in the 5 million range before he got to FA. He wants to win a Cup and who better to get that done for him….then the Caps! Of the yearly contenders…one could argue we are least locked in at goalie. We had 3 great phenoms…but nothing long term proven. Ultimately…and I may be on an island here….I think Holtby will prove to be the best of the bunch. Having Vokoun here will only help to move him along when/if Neuvirth misses some time.

Yet another offseason......another few months for the Skins to "shine".

by shvd98z24 on Jul 4, 2011 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

“Holy shit!” was my first and—I believe, appropriate reaction.

"In the depths of winter, I learned there was in me an invincible summer" ~Albert Camus

by Madelle on Jul 2, 2011 7:46 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

Same as mine

-closely followed by “awesome! (maniacal laughter)”

Washington got Ted Leonsis as karmic return for Dan Snyder.

by bronco6778 on Jul 2, 2011 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea, holy shit! Vokoun definitely wants to play for the Caps, because that is super cheap for that skill! ZOMG! IS THIS REAL???

Yea, I think you did ok with Goalies this year GMGM.

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by Bman21212 on Jul 2, 2011 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions

At least better than Holmgren. Or at least more cost effective.

Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.

by CapsFan75 on Jul 2, 2011 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope my toddler doesn’t repeat what I said.

by creasemonkey on Jul 2, 2011 7:56 PM EDT reply actions

So, has GMGM signed Wayne Gretsky yet? (At this point, NOTHING would surprise me.)

by creasemonkey on Jul 2, 2011 8:03 PM EDT reply actions

what what WHAT?

by Eggseronius on Jul 2, 2011 8:09 PM EDT reply actions

While Vokoun has little playoff experience (only 11 games per Wikipedia) he has 29 games of World Championship experience and 12 games of Olympic experience, winning an Olympic bronze in 2006 and WC gold in 2005 and 2010… he has a WC career SV% of .942…

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by thebreakawaygoal on Jul 2, 2011 8:28 PM EDT reply actions

Just for statistical context

Vokoun is #6 all-time in save percentage. Those ahead of him: Hasek, Thomas, Luongo, Lundqvist, Backstrom. That is unreal.

Endavant, a triomfar, a guanyar Villarreal!

by siempre_riquelme on Jul 2, 2011 8:28 PM EDT reply actions

And he outperformed his career % last season.

"...what're you gonna do?"

by Rainbow, Kitty, Beer on Jul 2, 2011 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep. There are few truly elite goalies at any given time in the NHL. Vokoun has been in the top 3 for the past few seasons. He’s an upgrade over vary/neuvy/holtby. I’m impressed with the poll results. Smart fans here!

by CarlosLA on Jul 4, 2011 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

DownGoesBrown Down Goes Brown
In 24 hours, the Caps get Vokoun at $1.5M and the Avs’ 2012 first rounder. George McPhee is playing this weekend on easy mode.

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by bilspacecadet on Jul 2, 2011 8:34 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs

If Semin or Green get moved to make space for Alzner and Brouwer this is going to be a very different Caps team. Maybe even a better one. Maybe.

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by Chaz-Capapalooza on Jul 2, 2011 8:38 PM EDT reply actions

Alright, asleep at the wheel, but our post is up on the front page now.

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by J.P. on Jul 2, 2011 8:43 PM EDT reply actions

Just a thought, but how great would it be if a year from now with mentorship, Neuvy starts playing like Vokoun in his prime, and Holtby starts playing like Kolzig in his prime.

by brooksengr on Jul 3, 2011 1:46 PM EDT reply actions