Tomáš Vokoun Tomáš Vokoun ( ; born July 2 , 1976 ) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . Playing career . Vokoun was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the ninth round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft , 226th overall . He remained in the Czech Republic for another year , playing with Poldi Kladno . Vokoun moved to North America for the 1995 – 96 season and played for the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL . He was called up to the Fredericton Canadiens of the American Hockey League ( AHL ) and played one playoff game . Having proven himself in the ECHL , Vokoun spent the 1996 – 97 season in Fredericton and played in his first game for Montreal ; it was not a stellar debut as he allowed four goals in only twenty minutes of play Against the Philadelphia Flyers . After another season with Fredericton , Vokoun was chosen by the Nashville Predators in the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft on June 26 , 1998 . Vokoun played 37 games for Nashville in their debut season and played nine games for the Milwaukee Admirals in the International Hockey League ( IHL ) . Although he again split time between the two clubs the following season , by 2000 , Vokoun was in the NHL to stay . However , he saw only limited action as the back - up to Mike Dunham . In 2002 , Dunham was traded to the New York Rangers for Marek Židlický , Tomáš Klouček and Rem Murray , and Vokoun was awarded the starting job . Vokoun acquitted himself well when given the chance to start , and he shouldered a heavy load for the Predators . His play was good enough in 2003 - 04 to send him to the All - Star Game for the first time . Possibly more important to Vokoun , though , was the chance to go to the playoffs , and the Predators earned their first trip in 2004 . Although the Predators lost in six games to the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs , they surprised many by giving the Red Wings more of a challenge than expected . In games three and four , both played in Nashville , Vokoun awed spectators with his performance netting the first - ever playoff shutout in franchise history by stopping 41 Red Wing shots . During the 2004 – 05 NHL lockout , Vokoun played 19 regular season games for HIFK in the Finnish SM - liiga , posting a . 940 save percentage . In the playoffs , Vokoun did not perform as well , posting an . 846 save percentage in four games — the worst in the league in that year ' s playoffs . Nevertheless , Vokoun had by then emerged as one of the world ' s elite goaltenders . His picture was placed on the cover of Nashville ' s city directory , testifying to is popularity in the non - traditional hockey market . Furthermore , as a fan favorite , during home games at the Sommet Center , when he made a save , the Predators fans in attendance routinely responded with a loud chant of " " VOO - KOOOON ! " " . On April 10 , 2006 , the Predators announced that Vokoun was afflicted by thrombophlebitis of the pelvis , a blood - clotting condition . He missed the team ' s remaining regular season games and the entire playoffs while he recovered by taking blood - thinning drugs and avoiding physical activity . Back - up goalie Chris Mason took his place as the starter , but the Predators failed to advance in the playoffs , again losing the quarterfinals . On July 24 , 2006 , Vokoun was cleared to resume his career and returned for the 2006 – 07 NHL season . However , at the beginning of the season , Vokoun hurt his thumb during a game and had to have surgery . Pins were put in this thumb , and he played with the pins and a brace on his thumb . On the day of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft , Vokoun was traded to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a first - round selection in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft , a second - round selection in the 2007 draft ( no . 58 ) and a conditional second - round selection in either 2007 or 2008 . Vokoun was selected to play for the Eastern Conference team in the 2008 NHL All Star Game in Atlanta . During the 2008 – 09 NHL season , Vokoun recorded 26 wins for the Panthers as they battled for their first playoff berth since 2000 . Though they ultimately fell short , the Panthers ' being in position to qualify was due in large part to the goaltending of Vokoun and fellow goaltender Craig Anderson . Vokoun was injured by teammate Keith Ballard in a game on Monday , November 30 , 2009 , when Ballard hit Vokoun with an errant stick in the head . Vokoun was carried off the ice on a stretcher and was treated at a nearby hospital for an ear laceration . Vokoun had just given up a goal to Ilya Kovalchuk of the Atlanta Thrashers and Ballard went to break his stick on the goal post in frustration , but caught Vokoun instead . Vokoun signed a one - year contract with the Washington Capitals on July 2 , 2011 , for $ 1 . 5 million . International play . - Competitor for the Czech Republic Vokoun has represented the Czech Republic many times over the course of his playing career . His first international experience came with the under - 20 team at the 1996 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships , where the Czechs finished in 4th place . His first senior experience came at the 2003 IIHF World Championship , where the Czechs again finished in 4th place . Overall he has played for the Czechs at four IIHF World Championships , two Winter Olympics Games and also in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey . He backstopped the Czechs to a 3rd place finish at the World Cup , gold medals at the 2005 and 2010 World Championships , and won bronze with the team at the 2006 Olympics . Personal life . Tomas Vokoun currently resides with his wife , Dagmar , and two daughters Adelle and Natalie in Parkland , Florida . Awards and records . Each of the below records are current as of the end of the 2009 – 10 NHL season .