After years of having a bullet-proof hold over the Pittsburgh Penguins’ starting job, Marc-Andre Fleury finally has a big-name backup in Tomas Vokoun.
Vokoun is a $2 million backup with a legitimate resume, so the question is: how will Fleury handle a significant threat breathing down his neck?
Either way, both goalies would prefer to forget big chunks of last season.
Fleury compiled 42 regular season wins while putting up solid individual numbers, but his playoff work was disastrous. Fleury allowed a stunning 26 goals in just six games against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Vokoun took less money with the Washington Capitals in hopes of winning a Stanley Cup but instead struggled on the ice - when he was healthy enough to even play.
Ultimately, the Penguins hope that at least one of them regains the form that made them much-hyped netminders in the past.
Vokoun’s been a No. 1 guy for a long time and Fleury hasn’t seen a threat to his hold over that role since assuming it, so perhaps Pittsburgh might benefit from both goalies leaving their comfort zones.
Related