Well, you can’t say the Caps simply stuck with the status quo this summer. Saturday’s bombshell that goalie Tomas Vokoun had signed for just $1.5 million completes a roster overhaul that began after the 2010-11 season ended in early May. Out are last season’s trade rentals – defenseman Scott Hannan, center Jason Arnott and winger Marco Sturm – and mainstay forwards Boyd Gordon and Matt Bradley.
In are forwards Jeff Halpern – the new fourth-line center and a former team captain – and Joel Ward as free-agent signings. Troy Brouwer was acquired in a draft day trade from Chicago – though as a restricted free agent he still needs to be signed. Mattias Sjogren, a 23-year-old from the Swedish Elite League, suddenly finds himself trying to crack a veteran lineup. But he, too, represents that new way forward –a two-way presence, yes, but in reality someone who is just hard to play against. Washington needed more speed among its bottom six forwards and an added element of…let’s politely call it feistiness or grit. Not that Gordon or Bradley didn’t provide some. But the Caps needed more. If they could do that and still upgrade offensively then all the better.
Vokoun, 35, has topped a .920 save percentage each of the last three seasons and four of the last five. He finished ninth in save percentage last season (.922), third in 2000-10 (.925) and second in 2008-09 (.926). In 2006-07 Vokoun was fifth (.920) overall. During two other seasons – 2005-06 and 2007-08 – he was at .919 both times. No other NHL goalie has a better save percentage (.922) since the lockout. To get a player of that caliber for so little money appeared to leave even Caps general manager George McPhee stunned.
“We thought we were done a couple of days ago,” McPhee admitted during a conference call with reporters on Sunday morning. “This was a significant move that we were not anticipating.”
Vokoun led the Czech Republic to a gold medal during the 2010 World Championships (7-1, 1.57 goals-against average, .944 save percentage). Also led the Czechs to a gold medal at the World Championships in 2005. Captured a bronze medal at the 2006 Olympics. Vokoun has represented the Czech Republic at two Olympics (2006, 2010), one World Cup (2004), four World Championships (2003, 2004, 2005, 2010) and one World Juniors (1996).
Washington was prepared to go with young goalies Michal Neuvirth – a Czech Republic native like Vokoun – and Braden Holtby. But when the market for goalies collapsed Vokoun’s agents called McPhee and asked if Washington was interested. Not really, he told them. Love the player – Caps pro scouts had him ranked among the game’s 10 best – but probably can’t afford the asking price even at a discount. What he didn’t count on was that Vokoun had told his representatives about his desire to play in Washington a few times over the last three years. The chance for a legitimate shot at a Stanley Cup was important, too, after a career spent mainly with non-playoff clubs. With the goalie willing to meet their price – leaving better offers on the table – the Caps had to jump.
“The only way we would have done this was for an elite goaltender,” McPhee said. He later added “I don’t think we anticipated being this fortunate.”
McPhee said Vokoun doesn’t necessarily have to mentor Neuvirth – though they hope his work habits rub off on the 23-year-old. The salary-cap issues are obvious. Brouwer and defenseman Karl Alzner must be signed as restricted free agents. While avoiding too many specifics, McPhee said long-term injured reserve is a definite possibility for defenseman Tom Poti ($2.875 million) and other unidentified players. We assume one is forward Eric Fehr ($2.2 million), who is recovering from another shoulder surgery. The team has an idea on Fehr’s timetable, but there are no guarantees he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season. Poti has long dealt with a groin injury the team now describes as “career threatening”. So still some work to do for McPhee and company. But now they have until October to make those final cap-related moves.
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