CAPITALS 101

While the hockey world is still focused on the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup, there were a couple moves made today that directly impact the 2012-13 Washington Capitals.

With an expiring contract and Braden Holtby and Michal Neuvirth set to play next year, George McPhee has dealt Tomas Vokoun to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 7th round draft pick in this year's draft.

Talk about making something out of nothing. Vokoun was slated to be a free agent in three weeks, but instead McPhee got a little return from the Pens while Ray Shero signed Vokoun to a 2 year, $4 million deal. He will take over the back-up duties for Brent Johnson, and it appears Vokie will play somewhere around 30 games to give Marc-Andre Fleury more rest.

It certainly was a successful $1.5 million investment on the 35-year-old netminder. Vokoun went 25-17-2 with the Caps this season before suffering a season-ending groin injury. He constantly produced masterful performances to keep Washington in the playoff hunt before succumbing to injury, and now the Caps get a young product for him.

In other news, Evgeny Kuznetsov made his two year deal with KHL's Traktor Chelyabinsk official in signing a contract. The 20-year-old will likely come into the NHL following two seasons with Traktor and an appearance for the Russian team at the 2014 Olympics.

While the news was inevitable, it officially gives McPhee the freedom to find productive scorers in the free agency pool starting July 1.

Capitals 101's hypothetical 2 year, $9 million deal to Olli Jokinen would be perfect to fill the 2C void until Kuznetsov comes to America.

 

 

Tags: Brent Johnson, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Hockey, Marc-Andre Fleury, NHL, Olli Jokinen, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tomas Vokoun, Washington, Washington Capitals

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