After Penguins’ management made the decision to sign goaltender Thomas Vokoun over the summer, it was clear that Brent Johnson’s future was not in Pittsburgh.  With Johnson’s career-worst season in regards to statistics, and Marc-Andre Fleury’s worrisome playoff performance last spring, a concerned ownership group felt the need to move in another direction.

That hasn’t stopped the thirty-five year old veteran from working hard and surveying all options that would keep him close to the game he loves.

April 20, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goalies Brent Johnson (1) and Marc-Andre Fleury (29) react after defeating the Philadelphia Flyers in game five of the 2012 Eastern Conference quarterfinals at CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

Johnson hopes to find a team in need of his services once the lockout is lifted and has continued to practice with a number of Pittsburgh Penguins at Southpointe; the complex which has become home to the infamous informal workouts.

One thing the goaltender hasn’t done, however, is minimized his options.  In the instance a net-minding job isn’t offered to him in the NHL, Brent has begun pondering the idea of coaching in the National Hockey League.  Although he knows that a job won’t just fall from the sky into his lap, nor will their necessarily be many options without having somewhat of a coaching background or resume, it hasn’t worried him the least.  If the lockout continues, he plans to look around Western Pennsylvania for chances to coach a school or run hockey camps.  The same will likely happen if the lockout is lifted and he remains unemployed.

Either way, Brent Johnson seems set on finding some coaching opportunities now or in the future, and wherever he ends up, the Penguins’ will surely miss this great, locker-room guy.

Dec 26, 2011; Buffalo, NY, USA; Washington Capitals goalie Tomas Vokoun (29) stops a shot by Buffalo Sabres left wing Thomas Vanek (26) during the second period at the First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-US PRESSWIRE

After signing with Pittsburgh this past summer, Thomas Vokoun will be playing hockey with a different team for the first time since leaving the Washington Capitals, and it isn’t even the Penguins.

Thanks to the everlasting lockout, Vokoun is headed to Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic where he has signed to play for his hometown team.  The backup goaltender became the Pittsburgh Penguins’ fourth player to sign with a team outside the NHL, all due to CBA negotiations stalling out as the two sides’ sit in a stalemate.

The decision to play in Europe followed the National Hockey League’s announcement of the Winter Classic’s cancellation.  The 36 year old goalie has two years and $4 million dollars remaining on his contract.

Feb. 9, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announces the 2013 Winter Classic game between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs during a press conference at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

Earlier today at the NHL League Office in New York City, the decision to cancel the upcoming NHL Winter Classic was finalized.  Originally scheduled to be held at the University of Michigan in “The Big House”, a 100,000+ capacity venue, a number of sources have reported that Michigan’s historic stadium will host the next Winter Classic event.

This is not just anothercasualty of the apocalyptic lockout, but rather could be the monumental turning point in negotiations, foreshadowing the 2012 season’s imminent cancellation.

There has been no discussion by NHL Suits or the NHLPA factually expressing that endgame; however, I fear the revenue that has been lost, the inexplicably lax attitudes taken by both sides in regards to reaching an agreement, and the subsequent nonexistent effort applied to physically sitting down and negotiating in the same room have provided us with enough evidence to assume the season will not be salvaged.

Along with calling off the Winter Classic, the Hockeytown Winter Festival and HBO’s 24/7 series, which follows both teams up to the Classic’s puck-drop, have also been cancelled.