Winnipeg Jets Lose Goalie Kaapo Kahkonen To Division Rival in Waiver Claim

The Winnipeg Jets felt compelled to make a decision to break their three-goalie setup, and the result is that they've lost veteran Kaapo Kahkonen on waivers, as their division rival Colorado Avalanche have stepped in as they're desperate for some help between the pipes.

We have claimed goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets. pic.twitter.com/Bei2wynxCn
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 11, 2024

The Avs were concerned about their goaltending even coming into the season, then after the pair of Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen allowed a whopping 8 goals in their season opener Wednesday night on just 21 shots, panic may have started to set in.

“It’s not good enough,” head coach Jared Bednar said of his team's goaltending in the opener.

Georgiev has had a huge workload over the last two seasons, starting 62 games for the second straight year in 2023-24, and he showed it, with an .897 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against average. Annunen is largely untested in the NHL, having started only 15 games total over the last four seasons.

As for Kahkonen, he lost the backup battle in Winnipeg to Eric Comrie, despite signing a one-year, $1M deal with the Jets this past summer. He'll now likely slot in as Georgiev's backup with the Avs, with Annunen possibly returning to the AHL to join the Colorado Eagles.

Although Kahkonen had a bit of a rough ride in goal with the San Jose Sharks most of last season (as any goaltender would have), he rebounded with a strong six-game trial with a decent defense in front of him with the New Jersey Devils after a deadline trade, posting a .923 Sv% and a 2.51 GAA. He became a free agent at season's end.

In 131 NHL starts over five years, the 28-year-old Finnish keeper has an .899 Sv% and a 3.33 GAA.