Veteran NHL goalie Tomas Vokoun – who won 300 games with the Predators, Panthers, Capitals and Penguins, and enjoyed success on the international hockey stage – is retiring at age 38.
Report: veteran goalie Tomas Vokoun retiring after 15 NHL seasonsAccording to a report from a Czech publication Sunday, veteran NHL goalie Tomas Vokoun, who won 300 regular-season games over 15 seasons with five teams, is retiring at age 38.
"I think I can be proud of the career I had," Vokoun told iSport.cz reporter Zdenek Janda, referring to accomplishments that included a 300-288-78 record, appearances in two all-star games and gold medals representing the Czech Republic at IIHF world championships in 2005 and 2010, as well as an Olympic bronze medal in 2006 and a bronze at the 2004 World Cup.
Drafted in the ninth round (226th overall) by Montreal in 1994, Vokoun appeared in only a single game for the Canadiens before the Nashville Predators selected him in the 1998 expansion draft. He played eight seasons for the Preds and remains the franchise's all-time leader in goalie appearances and saves. After leaving Nashville, Vokoun would play for the Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Health concerns were an issue for Vokoun at times: in 2006, he missed the playoffs with blood clotting in his pelvis – a potentially life-threatening condition – and Vokoun missed all of the 2013-14 campaign after undergoing a procedure to dissolve another blood clot in his pelvis. He had returned to full health since then, but clearly, there was not enough interest to keep him playing.
Vokoun retires with a career regulars-season goals-against average of 2.55 and a save percentage of .917.
