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Sports

Pens acquire rights to Vokoun, sign him to two-year deal

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Pittsburgh, PA – 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.