Columbus Blue Jackets Make Surprising Goaltender Move

The Columbus Blue Jackets have taken care of some business on Friday as the team announced they have re-sign goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to a one-year contract extension. The veteran netminder was expected to hit the free-agent market on July 13 and the Blue Jackets decided they have other plans.

The Blue Jackets have signed G Joonas Korpisalo to a one-year extension worth $1.3 million. Big show of faith in 28-year-old coming off a rough season (7-11-0, 4.15, .877) and major hip surgery in April.

Korpisalo was set to become a UFA for the first time this summer.#CBJ
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) May 20, 2022

NEWS: #CBJ have signed goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to a one-year contract extension for the 2022-23 #NHL season.
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) May 20, 2022

The 28-year-old takes a hefty pay cut as in 2021-22 he was making $2.8 million and now settles for less than half. Korpisalo lost his starting gig to Elvis Merzlikins and now will try to get his career back on track after a down season which included a slew of injuries.

Joonas Korpisalo, signed 1x$1.3M by CBJ, is a backup goalie who has struggled tremendously in the past two seasons in particular. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/FTCk6lywuq
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) May 20, 2022

In 2021-22, Korpisalo finished with a .877 save %, a 4.55 GAA and a 7-11-0 record, he must be loved in the dressing room to receive this type of contract after such a bad season. The 6-foot-3 Finnish netminder's best season came back in 2019-20 when he starred in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, posting a 1.90 GAA and a .941 save % in nine postseason games. The Blue Jackets are hopeful this type of performance is still within reach for Korpisalo in the very near future.