Winnipeg Jets sign Kaapo Kähkönen to one-year, $1 million contract

It seems Connor Hellebuyck has a new backup goaltender.

According to Sportsnets Elliotte Friedman, the Winnipeg Jets have inked goaltender Kaapo Kähkönen to a one-year, $1 million contract.

Kähkönen spent the 2023-24 season split between the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils. He was acquired from New Jersey at the trade deadline in a trade for Vitek Vanecek.

Kähkönen came into the league as a highly-touted goaltending prospect with the Minnesota Wild. However, when the Wild traded for Marc-Andre Fleury in March 2022, Kähkönen was the odd man out, and was dealt to the Sharks. It was the first time the Finnish puck-stopper had been traded in his NHL career.

Unfortunately, the 27-year-old has struggled behind a lackluster team, posting a goals-against average above 3.80 over the last two seasons in San Jose. He has played a little better during the 2023-24 campaign, posting a .895 save percentage in 31 appearances.

Kähkönen was in the final year of a two-year contract with an AAV of $2.75 million and was set to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

In 139 NHL appearances, Kähkönen has a 49-67-15 record with a 3.36 GA, a .898 SV% and three shutouts with the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils.