Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Avalanche have claimed goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers, adding depth to their goaltending tandem following a shaky start to the season. The question becomes: have the Avs already lost faith in Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen?
The 28-year-old Kahkonen spent the previous season splitting time between the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils, recording a combined 7-24-3 record with a .898 save percentage and a 3.64 goals-against average. His numbers aren’t off-the-charts incredible, but he does have experience and those numbers might be misleading based on the fact he played for a lowly Sharks team last season. In San Jose, he struggled, which should be expected. However, after being traded to the Devils in March, Kahkonen showed improvement, finishing his campaign with a .923 save percentage and a 2.51 GAA in six games.
Meanwhile, Georgiev, who struggled during the team’s opening night loss to the Vegas Golden Knights is coming off a sub-par 2023-24 campaign. Georgiev allowed five goals on just 16 shots before being pulled after two periods this week. It prompted head coach Jared Bednar to put in Annunen, who didn’t fare much better.
Bednar expressed his disappointment with the team’s goaltending, as did others on the team.
“It’s not good enough,” Bednar stated, hinting that the goaltending situation needed improving. He wasn’t the only one to voice concerns. Mikko Rantanen, who picked up a hat trick in the loss, said after the game. “If they only had 20 shots, maybe it wasn’t that many, but maybe the quality was too good for them.” Some of that was directed at the team, but there was an underlying hint that the club needed more saves.
Between the coach and the star player on the team publicly calling out the goaltending, the writing was on the wall.
Rantanen wasn’t shy about singing the praises of Kahkonen either. Once he learned he’d been picked up, he talked about the history at the World Juniors and said, “I think he’s a good goalie.”
Rantanen on fellow Finn Kaapo Kahkonen, who is his age.
“We skated together in the summer, and we won the World Juniors together. So, yeah, it’s good to have him. I think he’s a good goalie.”
— Aarif Deen (@runwriteAarif) October 11, 2024
With Kahkonen now in the fold, the Avalanche may be looking to move on from Georgiev, whether now or later in the season.
Teams don’t often run with three goalies and if the organization is feeling like Georgiev’s time has passed, a trade could be on the horizon. He’s a pending UFA playing out a contract that will see him make $3.4 million this season. Should the Avs identify a team with netminding needs, maybe there’s a fit.
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