Tomas Vokoun Traded To Pittsburgh, Signs 2-Year Deal With Penguins

Tomas Vokoun Signs 2-Year, $4 Million Contract With Pittsburgh Penguins

Just minutes after news broke that the Pittsburgh Penguins had acquired Tomas Vokoun's rights in a trade with the Washington Capitals, the team announced that they've signed the 35-year-old netminder to a two-year contract worth $2 million per season.

The news came via the Penguins official website.

Talks of Marc-Andre Fleury's demise in Pittsburgh are surely exaggerated, but $2 million per season for a backup goaltender would make Vokoun one of the most -- if not the most -- expensive backups in the NHL. It's certainly possible that the Penguins wish to give Fleury much more rest than he's seen in recent years, as he's played more than 70 games (including playoffs) in each of the last four seasons.

There are question marks surrounding Vokoun after a rough season in Washington, during which he battled groin injury problems. But indications are that Vokoun is healthy heading into the 2012-13 campaign.

For more on the Penguins, check in with Pensburgh and SB Nation Pittsburgh. For more on the Capitals, check in with Japers' Rink and SB Nation DC.

Capitals Trade Tomas Vokoun To Penguins For 7th Round Pick

The Capitals have traded soon-to-be free agent goaltender Tomas Vokoun to the Penguins in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2012 draft.

NHL Free Agency 2012: Tomas Vokoun 'Wants To Play In NHL,' According To Agent

Tomas Vokoun's agent, Allan Walsh, clarified Tuesday that the goaltender's primary objective is still to play in the NHL after a report Monday suggested that he was considering a possible move to Russia's Kontinental Hockey League next season.

Tomas Vokoun prefers to plays in the NHL next season and we are taking steps in furtherance of that goal. Reports of an agreement with (1/2)

— Allan Walsh (@walsha) May 15, 2012

are premature.Tomas won 25 games w/ Caps, has 2nd best SV% over last 7 years.He believes he can still be a dominant NHL goalie. (2/2).

— Allan Walsh (@walsha) May 15, 2012

The 35-year-old Vokoun played in just 48 games during an injury-plagued 2011-12 regular season. His 2.51 goals-against average ranked 22nd in the league among qualified goaltenders last season. It is clear that he and his representation believe he can still play. Whether NHL franchises agree remains to be seen.

For more on the Caps, check in with Japers' Rink and SB Nation DC.

Tomas Vokoun Won't Resign With Capitals, Could Join New Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Team, Says Report

Tomas Vokoun won't be a Capital next season, but he could play for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL.