Player store San Jose was able to surprise the worst time goalkeeper Kaapo Kähkönen, who has represented Minnesota for three years.
23.3. 08:45 • Updated Mar 23 09:15
Especially at the time of the closure of the NHL transfer window, many players on the market, so to speak, are well aware of their situation and the player trade that may be ahead. Players playing for the final year of their contract, in particular, sometimes have to deal with a possible transfer to a new club until the end.
The NHL’s transfer window closed on Monday night Finnish time.
A goalkeeper who has represented Minnesota for less than three seasons Kaapo Kähkönen has been playing his newcomer contract for the last year, but the Finn did not expect a player deal for himself. And not many others expected that, because Kähkönen had always played in the company on an upward trend.
– It was normal on the morning of the game day when the assistant coach came to say that I had to leave the ice. I wondered why and he just said that, now I have to go. The first thought was whether something had happened to someone in the family. The player trade didn’t work in my mind, Kähkönen told Sport.
The truth turned white after a while on the dressing room side.
– I waited in the booth for a moment and wondered what was going on here. In the end, GM Bill Guerin came to the scene and found that you have been trafficked to San Jose, Kähkönen continues.
– It was quite a shock, and still here is a very special feeling. I don’t really know what to think about all this.
The gaze of the club in the Swedish promise
Reasons why Minnesota eventually ended up winning a three-time Stanley Cup winner for Kähkönen Marc-Andre Fleuryn, can only be guessed at. Kähkönen started the season well, but the last few weeks have been difficult. Of the last eight matches, only two ended in Kähkönen’s victory, with the rebound percentage dropping to 88 and the average number of goals conceded to almost four.
In good setup, the spring-thinking club probably wanted a more routine goalkeeper for the playoffs.
On the other hand, the abandonment of Kähkön was probably also facilitated by the fact that in Luleå the club is maturing a real promise of excellence, only 19 years old. Jesper Wallstedt. The Swedish pledge is considered one of the best goalkeeper promises in the entire NHL. Wild booked a Swede in the first round last summer.
Whatever the reasons were, in the end, the solution made by the club for Kähkönen was disappointing.
– It was a surprise, you can’t get anywhere. There was a feeling that he wanted to go there and seem to have made the wrong decision.
No, Kähkönen is still going to be bitter.
– I’m not going to worry about this. Minnesota had a good outfit, but now the old ones are not to be worried about. I am excited about the new opportunity. That’s the only right way to approach this, Kähkönen reasoned.
When the information had sunk into Kähkönen’s system, an immediate buzz began towards the everyday life of the new team.
– I wondered for a moment and then the others drifted off the ice. It quickly exchanged a few words with the guys. I left it home while the others stayed to have a meeting. It was a really special atmosphere, I don’t remember the same feeling anywhere before.
– Lunch at home and clothes in the bag. Then called the San Jose coach and GM. I took this on a flight to Calgary, where San Jose played. Now we are already on the morning ice with the new team. There will be a lot of new things, but yes they will internalize over time. Now just quickly join the new gang, Kähkönen spins.
Three races
In San Jose, Kähkönen is in the middle of an interesting goalkeeper trio. 34 years old James Reimer is an experienced veteran with whom the goal is shared by 25-year-old Kähkönen and Arizona Adin Hill, who is currently injured. What makes the situation special is that Reimer and Hill have contracts for next season, Kähkönen does not.
It is likely that the club will get rid of Reimer in the summer.
– We talked to Reimer and had lunch together. Seems like a really nice guy. But I really have nothing to say about this situation, and this is not a situation to think about. When you get to play, you just have to strive to play as well as you can. Let’s look at contract stuff then in the summer, Kähkönen decides.
Upcoming NHL fights
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