The Winnipeg Jets have acquired goaltender Chris Driedger from the Florida Panthers in exchange for goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen.
Kahkonen Has Struggled in American Hockey League This Season
Kahkonen, who the Jets signed to a one-year deal last summer, got beat out by Eric Comrie for the Jets’ backup job and has struggled with the last-place Manitoba Moose this season.
The 28-year-old Finn, in 22 games with the Moose, has a 6-14-1 record with a 3.29 goals against average (GAA), .885 save percentage (SV%,) and one shutout. He also played two games for the Colorado Eagles and one game for the Avalanche after the Avalanche claimed him on waivers in October. The Jets re-acquired him when the Avalanche placed him on waivers in November.
In 140-career NHL games between the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils, and Avalanche, Kahkonen own a 49-58-16 record, 3.34 goals against average, .898 save percentage, and four shutouts. He was drafted in the fourth round, 119th overall, by the Wild in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
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Kahkonen will join a Panthers team that traded away goalie Spencer Knight earlier this week but acquired goalie Vitek Vanecek from the Sharks yesterday. Kahkonen will be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) this offseason.
Driedger Comes Home
Driedger, who hails from Winnipeg, will come home to act as insurance for the first-place Jets in case Connor Hellebuyck or Comrie get injured. He was in his second stint with the Panthers, on a one-year deal, and will be a UFA this offseason.
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The 30-year-old has played 20 games for the Charlotte Checkers this season, posting a 10-6-4 record, 2.97 GAA, and .878 SV%. In 67-career NHL games between the Ottawa Senators, Panthers, and Seattle Kraken, has a 31-24-5 record, 2.45 GAA, .917 SV%, and five shutouts.
He was drafted in the third round, 76th overall, by the Senators in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He has struggled with injuries over the past number of seasons that have limited his playing time.
