Pittsburgh Penguins Acquire Goaltender Tomas Vokoun

The backup goaltender spot was a weakness for the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2011-12 season as Brent Johnson was less-than-spectacular playing behind Marc-Andre Fleury.

General manager Ray Shero addressed that need on Monday, by acquiring veteran netminder Tomas Vokoun from the washington Capitals in exchange for a seventh round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft that will be held in Pittsburgh at the CONSOL Energy Arena.

The Penguins then signed Vokoun to a two-year contract worth an average annual value of $2 million, begining with the 2012-13 season and running 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.

Vokoun ranks sixth among active netminders with 287 career victories , only13 shy of becoming just the 31st goaltender in NHL history to reach 300 career wins.  He’s also appeared in 401 games since the  2005-06 season, the eight-highest total during that span, while also posting 36 shutouts. Over the last four seasons, the two-time NHL All-Star (2004, ’08) has posted a .923 save percentage.

The veteran has 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.