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Kaapo Kähkönen

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Kaapo Kähkönen
Kähkönen with the Iowa Wild in 2019
Born (1996-08-16) 16 August 1996 (age 28)
Helsinki, Finland
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 217 lb (98 kg; 15 st 7 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Winnipeg Jets
Manitoba Moose (AHL)
Espoo Blues
Lukko
Minnesota Wild
San Jose Sharks
New Jersey Devils
Colorado Avalanche
NHL draft 109th overall, 2014
Minnesota Wild
Playing career 2015–present

Kaapo Kähkönen (born 16 August 1996) is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender for the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kähkönen was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the fourth round, 109th overall, of the 2014 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

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Kähkönen played as a youth in his homeland within the Espoo Blues organization. He made his professional debut on loan to TUTO Hockey of the Mestis in the 2014–15 season before returning to make his Liiga debut with the Blues during the following 2015–16 season.

On 13 April 2016, Kähkönen left the Blues in order to be exposed to more playing time. He agreed to a two-year contract with Lukko.[1]

In the 2017–18 season, Kähkönen produced career best markers in leading the Liiga in games played, minutes and shutouts.

Upon completion of his two-year pact with Lukko, Kähkönen agreed to a two-year, entry-level contract with his draft club, the Minnesota Wild, on 17 May 2018.[2] In his second year in North America, during the 2019–20 season, Kähkönen was recalled by Minnesota from American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Iowa Wild, on 20 November 2019.[3] After serving as backup for two games, he became just the fourth Minnesota Wild goaltender to be given a start for his NHL debut against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on 26 November 2019. He made 32 saves, recording his first career victory in a 3–2 win over the Devils.[4] Kähkönen officially conceded his first goal against to Devils' rookie Jesper Boqvist, despite the NHL later admitting error from an incorrect ruling in a coach's challenge review from the Wild.[5]

In the 2020–21 season, Kähkönen became a full-time NHL player, serving as the backup to Cam Talbot. Between 18 February and 16 March 2021, he won nine consecutive games while being a starter, putting up a .947 save percentage and getting two shutouts during the winning streak.[6]

During the 2021–22 season, on 21 March 2022, Kähkönen was dealt at the NHL trade deadline to the San Jose Sharks, in exchange for defenceman Jacob Middleton and a 2022 fifth-round draft selection.[7] As a restricted free agent in the following off-season, Kähkönen was re-signed to a two-year, $5.5 million contract extension with the Sharks on 18 July 2022.[8]

On 8 March 2024, Kähkönen was traded by the Sharks to the New Jersey Devils for Vítek Vaněček and a 2025 seventh-round pick.[9] After backstopping the lowly Sharks, he finished the campaign with an improved .923 save percentage and a 2.51 goals against average (GAA) in six appearances in New Jersey.

On 1 July 2024, Kähkönen signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets.[10] After attending Winnipeg's training camp and preseason, Kähkönen lost out on the backup job to fellow netminder Eric Comrie and was subsequently placed on waivers by the Jets at the commencement of the 2024–25 season. On 11 October, he was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Avalanche.[11] After a lengthy immigration process, in order to regain match fitness, Kähkönen was assigned on a conditioning assignment to Avalanche's AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, on 24 October.[12] He featured in a pair of games with the Eagles, posting a .919 save percentage before returning to the Avalanche on 29 October.[13] Without adding to his debut game with the Avalanche, Kähkönen was placed back on waivers to make room on the roster for the previously suspended Valeri Nichushkin, and was re-claimed by the Winnipeg Jets on 12 November.[14]

International play

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Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  Finland
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Helsinki
World U18 Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Sochi

Kähkönen represented Finland junior team at the 2015 and 2016 World Junior Championships, where the team won gold. In the 2015 tournament, he was the team's third goaltender behind Juuse Saros and Ville Husso, and did not receive any playing time. In 2016, Kähkönen started the tournament as the second goaltender option behind Veini Vehviläinen, but ended up playing more as the tournament progressed. Ultimately Kähkönen who led the team to its fourth gold medal, after being substituted for Vehviläinen against Canada junior team in the second period of the quarterfinals. Kähkönen made 21 saves in a 2–1 win against Sweden junior team in the semifinals,[15] before helping his team beat Russia junior team 4–3 in the gold medal game in overtime, making 22 saves.[16]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2012–13 Espoo Blues Jr. A 28 — — — 1,676 68 4 2.43 .917 12 — — 628 28 2 2.68 .901
2013–14 Espoo Blues Jr. A 38 — — — 2,279 91 3 2.39 .911 10 — — 599 21 0 2.10 .915
2014–15 TuTo Mestis 47 — — — — 92 — 2.11 .925 13 — — — — — 1.95 .934
2015–16 Espoo Blues Liiga 27 6 15 5 1,581 71 1 2.69 .908 — — — — — — — —
2015–16 TuTo Mestis 1 0 0 0 28 0 0 0.00 1.000 6 — — — 18 — 3.03 .885
2016–17 Lukko Liiga 34 12 12 10 2,020 87 2 2.58 .921 — — — — — — — —
2017–18 Lukko Liiga 56 20 23 12 3,275 120 6 2.20 .920 2 0 2 126 5 0 2.38 .921
2018–19 Iowa Wild AHL 39 17 14 8 2,373 110 6 2.78 .908 — — — — — — — —
2019–20 Iowa Wild AHL 34 25 6 3 2,058 71 7 2.07 .927 — — — — — — — —
2019–20 Minnesota Wild NHL 5 3 1 1 305 15 0 2.96 .913 — — — — — — — —
2020–21 Minnesota Wild NHL 24 16 8 0 1,414 68 2 2.88 .902 — — — — — — — —
2021–22 Minnesota Wild NHL 25 12 8 3 1,381 66 0 2.87 .910 — — — — — — — —
2021–22 San Jose Sharks NHL 11 2 6 1 566 27 0 2.86 .916 — — — — — — — —
2022–23 San Jose Sharks NHL 37 9 20 7 2,107 135 1 3.85 .883 — — — — — — — —
2023–24 San Jose Sharks NHL 31 6 20 3 1,651 105 0 3.81 .895 — — — — — — — —
2023–24 New Jersey Devils NHL 6 1 4 0 263 11 1 2.51 .923 — — — — — — — —
2024–25 Colorado Eagles AHL 2 0 2 0 117 5 0 2.57 .919 — — — — — — — —
2024–25 Colorado Avalanche NHL 1 0 1 0 58 4 0 4.12 .800 — — — — — — — —
Liiga totals 117 38 50 27 6,876 278 9 2.43 .918 2 0 2 126 5 0 2.38 .921
NHL totals 140 49 68 15 7,744 431 4 3.34 .898 — — — — — — — —

International

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Year Team Event Result GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2013 Finland U17 7th 4 — — — — — — 4.48 .858
2013 Finland IH18 5th 3 2 1 0 174 10 0 3.45 .881
2014 Finland U18 6th 5 2 3 0 269 15 0 3.37 .886
2016 Finland WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4 4 0 0 214 9 0 2.52 .909
Junior totals 4 4 0 0 214 9 0 2.52 .909

Awards and honours

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Award Year Ref
Mestis
Best goaltender 2015
First All-Star Team 2015
Rookie of the Year 2015
AHL
All-Star Game 2019
First All-Star Team 2020 [17]
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award 2020 [18]

References

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  1. ^ "Kaapo Kahkonen for Lukko" (in Finnish). Lukko. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Wild signs Kahkonen to two-year, entry-level deal". Minnesota Wild. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Wild announces roster moves". Iowa Wild. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Kahkonen wins NHL debut as Wild edge Devils". The Sports Network. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  5. ^ "NHL admits error in coach's challenge decision on Devils goal". scoutingtherefs.com. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Kaapo Kahkonen Has a Track Record Of Being Streaky". Zone Coverage. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Sharks Acquire Kaapo Kahkonen from Minnesota". National Hockey League. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Sharks re-sign Goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen". San Jose Sharks. 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Devils Acquire Kahkonen from San Jose". NHL.com. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Jets sign goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen to a one-year contract". Winnipeg Jets. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Avalanche claim Kahkonen off waivers". Colorado Avalanche. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Avalanche loan Kaapo Kahkonen to the AHL for a conditioning assignment". coloradohockeynow.com. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Eagles sign Wise to PTO, Kakkonen returns to Avalanche". Colorado Eagles. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Jets claim Kahkonen off waivers from Avs". The Sports Network. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  15. ^ "IIHF – SWE – FIN 04.01.2016 – 2016 IIHF ICE HOCKEY U20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – Game Centre Play by play". IIHF International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  16. ^ "IIHF – RUS – FIN 05.01.2016 – 2016 IIHF ICE HOCKEY U20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – Game Centre Play by play". IIHF International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  17. ^ "2019–20 AHL First, Second All-Star Team announced". American Hockey League. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Kahkonen named AHL Goaltender of the Year". iowawild.com. Iowa Wild. 26 May 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award
2019–20 		Succeeded by
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