The Career of Tomas Vokoun

Hey all, starting off today with a career video.
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[@HalieriEinherjar]

One of the most underrated goalies ever played.

[@tristanmcguire4820]

Vokoun was always criminally underrated

[@InsignificantNick]

I'll always remember when Keith Ballard almost took his head off. I didn't know he had a career .917 save percentage!

[@Damphouse]

Vokoun!!!! Growing up in Nashville during the early 00's allowed me to watch a lot of his Predator games. Guy was an absolut beast. Glad to see a video on him.

[@closethockeyfan5284]

One of the most bizarrely underrated goalies of his time, consistently good to great

[@milan99cz]

Vokoun was a BEAST for the Czech national team, happy to see a video on him THFG

[@alexmoosmann89]

I will never understand why goalies in the NHL get measured by their wins. The most telling thing is clearly the Save Percentage

[@nathanielcava4128]

Agreed. As a goalie myself I’ve been on my fair share of winning and losing teams. Based on loses you’d think I was a pylon…based on save percentage you’d think I was on a top tier team.

[@felixeur1276]

I would argue Goals Saved Above Average per 60 is the most accurate measure of how good a goalie truly is.

[@SethFinberg]

A lefty as well, a rarity among net-minders

[@poonking3628]

Absolutely one of my favourite goalies to watch. He was insane for Florida despite playing behind terrible teams his whole time there.

[@MRTZ1897]

Vokoun played in Helsinki in the 04-05 Lockout season, was absolutely fantastic in the regular season, played 19 games with a lovely .940 save% and then the playoffs happened.... Ooooof

[@BrendanP]

At the time I found it so interesting how Vokoun displaced Fleury as the starter in Pittsburgh for a bit, and that conversation continued until that blood clot put him into retirement. A really good goalie, so the 22 playoff GP I was shocked. I thought he played more playoff games than that.

[@lankancheetah]

It's the health issues that really got to him. 05-06 playoffs is one example where he would've probably gone far if not for that.

[@chrisgarry22]

Fleury couldn’t stop a beach ball against the Islanders in 2013

[@j.j2030]

@@KanersCabride that is why I argue that Lundqvist, quick and price are all better, or were better than fleury in their careers. Now don't get me wrong, fleury is a great goaltender, HoF for sure, but, he hasn't really been that star like the others, quick, Lundqvist and price ALL carried pretty ass teams through the playoffs, while fleury just played well enough for Pittsburgh to outscore their opponents, he just had to not allow the 3rd or 4th goal. While the other regularly played 1-0 2-1 games

[@Crab_13]

He was beloved in Florida. Everyone loved chanting his name for a big save and he had a great animation to go with it. His return game against Florida was electric and the Jumbotron kept doing the VOKOUN animation even though he was on the opposing team. Top 10 memory of hockey for me.

[@alexmoosmann89]

Vokoun was always one of my favorite goaltenders and I don't know why 😅 as a Pens fan, I was super thrilled when he played for us in 12/13

[@neithermanc1]

he was a dang good backup too, unfortunately boston was too powerful that season :(

[@CamPopplestone]

Vokounamatata!

[@xlr0gd205]

What happened to Fleury that year?

[@radekdickinson5772]

Also was a mainstay of the Czech National Team that won the 2010 World Championship. Díky, Tomáši!

[@faunbudweis]

lets not forget 2005 Vienna either, that tournament had Olympic level because of the lockout, Vokoun blanked a stacked Team Canada in the finals 3:0

[@ImCedReacts]

Vokoun was a great goalie

[@andrewjmschroeder]

Glad you've done this one. Vokoun is one of the more underrated goaltenders in recent NHL history.

[@dawnsempire8510]

Vokoun helped me reach a fantasy hockey championship match (which i unfortunately lost) my first season playing in 2010-11!

[@philipcoggins9512]

An above average goalie who seemed to perform better on the more important the game. As a goalie I watched a lot of his games coming up. Its shameful that he didn't get more accolades during his career.

[@smithryansmith]

Just a quick note: (v)okoun: in Czech means "bass" (the type of fish).

[@J_Aaron_L]

This is a very unexpected but neat career vid. Love these! As always, thank Mr. hockey dude man.

[@sa-j2o]

Another Czech legend!!!

[@PodcastNow]

Maybe the most underrated goalie ever. Insanely good save percentage consistently

[@alangrygar8562]

Thanks a lot for this video, guy was an absolute stud, integral part of the WC gold for Czech Republic back in 2010.

[@VaclavDusek36]

Thank you so much for covering the second-best Czech Goalie in history :) If it weren't for Hasek I feel he'd be a lot more famous/talked about - still, an absolute legend!

[@connor_weggy]

I remember the 12-13 playoff series the islanders were looking like they were about to upset the pens in round one. Whichever game they switched to Vokoun he completely shut the islanders down and won them the series.

[@2jackdolan]

Vokoun was always near the top of the league in saves when he was in Florida. Always got shelled there but still was solid despite the lack of Defense. Really underrated in the era he played

[@Skaliex]

He was my favourite player growing up ❤

[@corvus5782]

This career vid (great as usual) got me thinking: for the lock-out year why not include stats of where they played (if applicable)? Vokoun went 19-11-4-4 in the Finnish league in 04/05.

[@MrBlazemaster525]

I would guess consistency since majority look at the NHL stats either side of the lockout anyway

[@samw31]

My friends and I always would joke if goalies could wear two gloves Vokoun would be the best in the league

[@brandonmoretti5774]

His tenure with the Pens was awesome, I remember going to game 5 of the 1st round that year he played when Fleury was hurt and all the "Koouuuunnnn" chants was amazing he really stepped up the best he could

[@TheStunscsa]

When Montreal had their AHL team here I remember watching him play. Was always happy to see him make it

[@johnfleming9909]

I remember seeing Vokoun play in 1996 for the Wheeling Thunderbirds in the ECHL. Yes, Thunderbirds. The team became the Nailers the next season.

[@kcjc]

Has always been one of my favorites

[@GvirusUser]

I really enjoyed him when he was with Pittsburgh that last year. Really stepped up in the playoffs when Fleury had his struggles

[@3HDproduction]

I have so many hockey cards of this man 😃 nostalgia I miss

[@noahcricket]

throat goat

[@poonking3628]

Is that his actual nickname 😂

[@greenpandas3446]

0w0

[@janellemaynait]

That's not nice

[@susancraver]

In 98-99 he was our 4th goalie. It was Dunham, Fichaud, Mason, THEN Vokoun. I was at the Bruins game in Boston that he started in January 99.

[@Ryan_Wayne]

He was also excelent at the international level, he won 05 and 10 with the Czech republic (last two golds for Czech to this day), as a fan I remember not being nervous at all with him in the net, because he was like a wall in the big games. Too bad he spend most of his NHL career with not a very good teams, he would definitely be able to win a Stanley cup as a starter.

[@garybass4029]

Really enjoy these career videos you make! 👍 so much time and work! Always interesting! Thank you!

[@crotalon]

Vokoun...that is a name I haven't heard in a long time... a very long time.

[@mattledbetter]

Loved Vokoun in Nashville!! #29!!

[@andrewjones4216]

Great video man, love the content!!!!

[@risk_it_4_the_biscuit]

Top 30 goalie in games played and top 40 in wins and 15th in SV% all time should be good enough for HOF.

[@Nikkerman]

Gotta be honest, as a fan of both the Caps and Vokun, I completely forgot he played for us for a year.

[@JarradBruessel32]

4:55 you could almost say that their goaltending was "too good right now."

[@SojCZE]

One important detail. In 2013/2014 Vokoun was under contract with Pens but he was forced to sit out the season due to large blood clot on multiple places of his body that caused huge issues at the end of the pre-season. He than managed to play two games in AHL at the end of that season but there was no multiple-year interest from the teams for 2014/2015 so he retired on 15th december of 2014.

[@jsullivan5823]

Oh man I remember his last few years and that darn blood clot that forced him into retirement Thanks again man!

[@williampilling6576]

Now here's a name I haven't heard of in a while!

[@SangdaleDiscGolf]

Was walking around a grocery store in St. Catharines Ontario & I saw some guy rocking a Florida Panthers Vokoun jersey. Thought that was pretty cool.

[@Fish-rz9xn]

Got my first goalie mask signed by him in his last year with the penguins 🐧

[@jasonmaureaux9125]

I remember watching vokoun in Colorado and he got scored on from center ice and wasn’t even paying attention to the game. I can never find a highlight of the play though.

[@tomcrouchman]

I always liked Vokoun. I knew he was gonna be a good NHL Goalie when Montreal lost him. Dobes is our next Goalie of the Future. We better not trade him or lose him.

[@Mutorcsym1391]

Getting good use with your team decals.

[@sidneygahrig1927]

My favourit goalie 4 ever.❤😘

[@topiheimola69]

A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one

[@xdraconicgaming5204]

Hands down one of the most unsung amazing goaltenders. His stats would surprise most people. I always hated the Leafs going up against Vokoun.

[@alexzeller8774]

I knew he was good but DAMN way better stats than I could imagine!

[@tenlosol]

I'll always think of him as the guy before rinne, which isn't a bad thing just that he held the fort. He's like greiss, I always liked him for his effort and play.

[@brimstone_flame6246]

Vokouna mattata. What a wonderful phrase. It means no Fleurys for the rest of your days. The official jingle of the penguins 2013 playoffs

[@autistica1]

I remember being mad that he decided to leave Florida and he said something about how he wanted to go to a playoff team. Florida then picked up Jose Theodore and made the playoffs, taking the Devils to double OT of game 7.

[@xlr0gd205]

Vokoun then reached the Conference Finals

[@Zamppa86]

I really think you should all the goal against average onto the table aswell next to the saver percentage. Both stats are quite important even though I also prefer save percentage.

[@floatingcoffin]

All time great last name!

[@duck4dayzz]

This was the year I started watching hockey, so when he did not comeback to the Penguins the following year I was so confused.

[@marcan79]

And to add to Montreal depth, they drafted Theodore the same year as Vokoun

[@momokingify]

Crazy to think he was forced into the starting role during the run with the Pens.

[@lankancheetah]

He really wasn't lucky health wise; he couldve really brought the 05-06 Predators far in those playoffs. But alas they had to go with Chris Mason..

[@HalfyManBearPig]

penguins legend

[@stephengorney5613]

Current inductee into the Hall of Pretty Darn Good

[@gocanuckurself1]

Wow, he’s been out of the league that long? I remember Vokoun quite well.

[@brandontownsend2756]

Habs fan. I'm going to throw up. We could've had Vokoun in his prime during the worst years we've ever had for goaltending

[@06rtm]

Great goalie

[@gaah23]

Is he the right-hand glove goalie with most wins in the league?

[@JarradBruessel32]

I see a trend happening. 2nd day in a row for a full right (term used for goalies who catch with their right hand) goalie.

[@avansies]

Vokoun probably stays an extra couple years in nashville if craig leopold doesnt have a fire sale and gut the team before tnrying to sell them off to another owner

[@susancraver]

I actually felt sick when I heard of the trade.

[@mikeboutang3146]

Watched him a fair bit and thought he was underrated and one of the best, but unfortunately on poorer teams.

[@jonathancote9372]

My man Vokoun!!! I got his rookie card in montreal!

[@CamPopplestone]

Vokoun is one of my biggest goalie "What it's?" If he had played on better teams.

[@golsonmoldon9455]

A total nightmare to the opposition. Never given the accolades he deserved. I seem to remember an issue with blood clotting in the later stages of his career that may have forced him into retirement.

[@Yrzi]

If you are a goalie in the NHL and want to get traded, just play well

[@mattyp2148]

Vokoun definitely deserved better recognition in Vezina voting but the league as a whole was pretty closed minded when it came to voting and candidates during his career. 2007-2008 should've been his Vezina but it was gifted to a familar name who was overrated for much of his career. It's a shame he didn't get the credit he deserved, amazing goalie.

[@vghnmj5523]

Can you please make a video on the Chicago Blackhawks situation? Im kinda begging you at this points, its so sad to see my team fall apart

[@CanucksVid]

Ballard's best friend.

[@patch8376]

I thought Vokoun would have made it into the THG HHOF. How long is the waiting period post-retirement for eligibility?

[@Keenan716]

Please do the career of Chris Drury

[@samuelattias148]

Mr. Vokoun

[@kevaninthe4135]

Classic case of a really good goaltender who never got to be on a really good team for the majority of his career.

[@Mulukkis]

Sad career. Dude was an awesome goalie. 15 seasons. 22 PLAYOFF GAMES 😣

[@purplecottonmouth5649]

Can you do a career update/fall off of Jonathan Towes

[@CalvinBiefeld]

Should've had a stanley cup

[@rockybalboa1847]

Shannon ... can we see a career video on Pete Peeters... please and thank you

[@smithryansmith]

good one

[@lrba5524]

Capitals legend

[@Nud182]

I think you did Vokoun already

[@canada1966]

Keith Ballard

[@swy334]

He saved the Pens' bacon when Fleury choked in 2013

[@thumbthump]

Vokoun was good, but that Pekka guy, too good.....when?

[@daledemanchuk7920]

he retired early never was the same after ballard went to smash his stick on the crossbar missed and crushed vokoun's head concussing him ffs....

[@danteangotti5786]

The guy who got bitch slapped by his own teammate!

[@faunbudweis]

two words: Mitch Korn

[@AlexFromCooks]

Too bad for Vokoun his biggest highlight was getting undressed by Dastyuk in a shootout

[@thebigsalad2000]

imma numba 1

[@tezmo3]

I loved this kid... The GM for Nashville is crap.