Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports activities
The Colorado Avalanche have claimed goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers, including depth to their goaltending tandem following a shaky begin to the season. The query turns into: have the Avs already misplaced religion in Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen?
The 28-year-old Kahkonen spent the earlier season splitting time between the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils, recording a mixed 7-24-3 file with a .898 save share and a 3.64 goals-against common. His numbers aren’t off-the-charts unimaginable, however he does have expertise and people numbers could be deceptive primarily based on the actual fact he performed for a lowly Sharks crew final season. In San Jose, he struggled, which needs to be anticipated. Nonetheless, after being traded to the Devils in March, Kahkonen confirmed enchancment, ending his marketing campaign with a .923 save share and a 2.51 GAA in six video games.
In the meantime, Georgiev, who struggled in the course of the crew’s opening night time loss to the Vegas Golden Knights is coming off a sub-par 2023-24 marketing campaign. Georgiev allowed 5 targets on simply 16 photographs earlier than being pulled after two intervals this week. It prompted head coach Jared Bednar to place in Annunen, who did not fare significantly better.
Bednar expressed his disappointment with the crew’s goaltending, as did others on the crew.
“It’s not adequate,” Bednar stated, hinting that the goaltending state of affairs wanted enhancing. He wasn’t the one one to voice considerations. Mikko Rantanen, who picked up a hat trick within the loss, stated after the sport. “In the event that they solely had 20 photographs, possibly it wasn’t that many, however possibly the standard was too good for them.” A few of that was directed on the crew, however there was an underlying trace that the membership wanted extra saves.
Between the coach and the star participant on the crew publicly calling out the goaltending, the writing was on the wall.
Rantanen wasn’t shy about singing the praises of Kahkonen both. As soon as he realized he’d been picked up, he talked in regards to the historical past on the World Juniors and said, “I believe he’s a superb goalie.”
Rantanen on fellow Finn Kaapo Kahkonen, who’s his age.
“We skated collectively in the summertime, and we received the World Juniors collectively. So, yeah, it is good to have him. I believe he is a superb goalie.”
— Aarif Deen (@runwriteAarif) October 11, 2024
With Kahkonen now within the fold, the Avalanche could also be seeking to transfer on from Georgiev, whether or not now or later within the season.
Groups do not typically run with three goalies and if the group is feeling like Georgiev’s time has handed, a commerce could possibly be on the horizon. He is a pending UFA taking part in out a contract that may see him make $3.4 million this season. Ought to the Avs determine a crew with netminding wants, possibly there is a match.
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