Tomas Vokoun was a ninth-round draft pick by the Montreal Canadiens in 1994; the same draft that welcomed Jose Theodore to the Canadiens organization. Nobody expected, at the time, that the final pick made by the Habs that year would go on to have the longest NHL career out of the Habs’ entire draft class of 13 players.
Vokoun came over from the Czech Republic to Montreal the following season, and despite a decent showing in training camp at the start of the 1995-96 season he was cut from the team. The goaltending situation in Montreal was pretty solid with Patrick Roy firmly and unmistakably entrenched in the starter position (cue ominous music), veteran Pat Jablonski as his backup, and Patrick Labrecque as the heir apparent to an NHL role, guarding the fort for the AHL’s Fredericton Canadiens.