Kaapo Kähkönen Explained

Kaapo Kähkönen
Birth Date:16 August 1996
Birth Place:Helsinki, Finland
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:217
Position:Goaltender
Catches:Left
League:NHL
Team:Winnipeg Jets
Former Teams:Espoo Blues
Lukko
Minnesota Wild
San Jose Sharks
New Jersey Devils
Draft:109th overall
Draft Team:Minnesota Wild
Draft Year:2014
Career Start:2015

Kaapo Kähkönen (born 16 August 1996) is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender for 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

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 Liiga 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 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 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 to the New Jersey Devils for Vítek Vaněček and a 2025 seventh-round pick.[9]

On 1 July 2024, Kähkönen signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets. [10]

International play

Kähkönen represented The Finnish men's national under 20 ice hockey team at the 2015 and 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where the team won gold.

In the 2015 tournament, he was the team's third goalie, behind Juuse Saros and Ville Husso, and did not receive any playing time.

In 2016, Kähkönen started the tournament as the second goalie option behind Veini Vehviläinen, but ended up playing more as the tournament progressed. Ultimately it was Kähkönen who led the team to its 4th gold medal, after being substituted for Vehviläinen against Canada in the quarterfinal game in the second period.

Kähkönen then made 21 saves in a 2–1 win against Sweden in the semifinals [11] before helping his team beat Russia 4–3 in the gold medal game in overtime making 22 saves.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLOTMINGASOGAASV%GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2012–13 Espoo BluesJr. A281676 68 4 2.43 .91712 628 28 2 2.68 .901
2013–14 Espoo Blues Jr. A382279 91 3 2.39 .91110 599 21 0 2.10 .915
TuToMestis4792 2.11 .92513 1.95 .934
2015–16Espoo BluesLiiga27615 5 1581 71 1 2.69.908
2015–16TuToMestis100028000.001.0006183.03.885
2016–17LukkoLiiga3412 12 10 2020 87 22.58.921
2017–18LukkoLiiga56202312327512062.20.9202 0 2 126 502.38 .921
2018–19Iowa WildAHL3917148237311062.78.908
2019–20Iowa WildAHL34256320587172.07.927
2019–20Minnesota WildNHL53113051502.96.913
2020–21Minnesota WildNHL24168014146822.88.902
2021–22Minnesota WildNHL25128313816602.87.910
2021–22San Jose SharksNHL112615662702.86.916
2022–23San Jose SharksNHL3792072,10713513.85.883
2023–24San Jose SharksNHL316203165110503.81.895
2023–24New Jersey DevilsNHL61402631112.51.923
Liiga totals1173850276,87627892.43.918202126502.38.921
NHL totals1394967157,68642743.33.899

International

YearTeamEventResultGPWLOTMINGASOGAASV%
2013FinlandU177th4 4.48.858
2013FinlandIH185th3 2 1 0174 10 0 3.45.881
2014FinlandU186th523026915 03.37.886
2016FinlandWJC44002149 02.52.909
Junior totals16

Awards and honours

AwardYearRef
Mestis
Best Goaltender2015
First All-Star Team2015
Rookie of the Year2015
AHL
All-Star Game2019
First All-Star Team2020[13]
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award2020[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kaapo Kahkonen for Lukko . . 13 April 2016 . 13 April 2016 . Finnish.
  2. Web site: Wild signs Kahkonen to two-year, entry-level deal . . 17 May 2018 . 17 May 2018.
  3. Web site: Wild announces roster moves . . 20 November 2019 . 20 November 2019.
  4. Web site: Kahkonen wins NHL debut as Wild edge Devils . . 26 November 2019 . 26 November 2019.
  5. Web site: NHL admits error in coach's challenge decision on Devils goal . scoutingtherefs.com . 26 November 2019 . 26 November 2019.
  6. Web site: Kaapo Kahkonen Has a Track Record Of Being Streaky . Zone Coverage . 18 March 2021 . 3 June 2021.
  7. Web site: Sharks Acquire Kaapo Kahkonen from Minnesota. National Hockey League. 21 March 2022. 21 March 2022.
  8. Web site: Sharks re-sign Goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen . . 18 July 2022 . 18 July 2022.
  9. Web site: Devils Acquire Kahkonen from San Jose . NHL.com . 9 March 2024 . 8 March 2024.
  10. Web site: Jets sign goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen to a one-year contract . . July 1, 2024 . July 15, 2024.
  11. Web site: IIHF – SWE – FIN 04.01.2016 – 2016 IIHF ICE HOCKEY U20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – Game Centre Play by play . 17 January 2024 . IIHF International Ice Hockey Federation.
  12. Web site: IIHF – RUS – FIN 05.01.2016 – 2016 IIHF ICE HOCKEY U20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – Game Centre Play by play . 17 January 2024 . IIHF International Ice Hockey Federation.
  13. Web site: 2019–20 AHL First, Second All-Star Team announced . . 20 May 2020 . 20 May 2020.
  14. Web site: Kahkonen named AHL Goaltender of the Year . iowawild.com . Iowa Wild . 26 May 2020 . 26 May 2020.