The Jets have placed goaltender Kaapo Kähkönen on waivers, per PuckPedia. It appears he’s lost the backup battle to Eric Comrie and can be claimed by any team after signing a one-year, $1MM deal in Winnipeg over the offseason.
It’s likely not the result the Jets nor Kähkönen expected after coming to terms on the deal. Most assumed Comrie, who struggled to the tune of a .874 SV% in 10 games with the Sabres last year, would be the one to end up on waivers and sit at No. 3 on Winnipeg’s goaltending depth chart after inking a two-year, $825K AAV deal to kick off his fourth stint in the Jets organization.
The Jets were able to wait to make their decision, as starter Connor Hellebuyck’s brief absence due to personal reasons forced them to carry three goalies on their opening night roster. But Hellebuyck returned to pitch a shutout in last night’s season opener against the Oilers with Comrie on the bench, meaning Kähkönen watched from the press box.
It’s worth noting that taking Kähkönen off the roster instead of Comrie frees up an additional $175K in cap space. But it’s hard to imagine him passing through waivers. His $1MM cap hit is fully buriable in the minors if he doesn’t work out with a new club and lands back on the waiver wire, and he’s an intriguing pickup after he managed a .898 SV% in 37 games last year despite spending most of the campaign with the league-worst Sharks. The 28-year-old’s numbers weren’t too far below average, and he closed the campaign on a tear with a .923 SV% in six games for the Devils after New Jersey acquired him via trade.
Kähkönen was a Minnesota fourth-round pick back in 2014. He has a career .899 SV%, four shutouts, and a 49-67-15 record in 139 appearances with the Wild, Sharks, and Devils.
This guy is easily worth this contract… any teams in need of depth should be here. TOR have a meh tandem so could be an option
Send Blomqvist down, claim Kahkonen and give Jarry the length of time between now and when Nedeljkovic is healthy to show why the Pens shouldn’t waive him and move forward with a Ned/Kakko tandem.
SO bad last night. SO bad down the stretch. He needs to show something.
I don’t like Jarry either, but it seems like major wishful thinking that a guy with a career .899 SV% and a losing career record would step in and immediately replace him. Also seems odd to not just give the same opportunity to Blomqvist first . . .
If you saw Blomqvist this preseason it wouldn’t seem odd, he was really bad, too.
Ned was good enough for us down the stretch. Good enough was a massive upgrade over what Jarry has brought last year (and now this).
Nice timing actually. Blomqvist starts tonight. Let his play decide but if he plays like Jarry, claim Kahkonen.
Comrie isn’t better than Kahkonen. Not sure what Chevy is thinking here.
It does seem like an odd decision. Perhaps Kahkonen has a bad attitude?
Perhaps you have genital warts.
Ducks should pick him up if he drops to them on the WW
BriseBois…PICK HIM UP AND GIVE VASI A NORMAL BACKUP!
Comrie is friends with Hellebuyck. this for his comfort. reality if backup plays a lot they are in trouble.
Comrie sucks