Kaapo Kähkönen

Kaapo Kähkönen (born 16 August 1996) is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender for the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Florida Panthers 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, and has also played in the NHL for the San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche.

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 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.

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. In his second year in North America, during the 2019–20 season, Kähkönen was recalled by Minnesota from American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Iowa Wild, on 20 November 2019. 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. 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.

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.

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 2022 fifth-round draft selection. 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.

On 8 March 2024, Kähkönen was traded by the Sharks to the New Jersey Devils for Vítek Vaněček and a 2025 seventh-round pick. After backstopping the lowly Sharks, he finished the campaign with an improved .923 save percentage and a 2.51 goals against average (GAA) in six appearances in New Jersey.

On 1 July 2024, Kähkönen signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets. After attending Winnipeg's training camp and preseason, Kähkönen lost out on the backup job to fellow netminder Eric Comrie and was subsequently placed on waivers by the Jets at the commencement of the 2024–25 season. On 11 October, he was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Avalanche. After a lengthy immigration process, in order to regain match fitness, Kähkönen was assigned on a conditioning assignment to Avalanche's AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, on 24 October. He featured in a pair of games with the Eagles, posting a .919 save percentage before returning to the Avalanche on 29 October. Without adding to his debut game with the Avalanche, Kähkönen was placed back on waivers to make room on the roster for the previously suspended Valeri Nichushkin, and was re-claimed by the Winnipeg Jets on 12 November. On 5 March 2025, Kähkönen was subsequently traded to the Florida Panthers, in exchange for Chris Driedger. He did not remain in Florida, and while the Panthers are close to repeating their Stanley Cup victory, he is taking their AHL team, Charlotte Checkers to the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs.

International play

Kähkönen represented Finland junior team at the 2015 and 2016 World Junior Championships, where the team won gold. In the 2015 tournament, he was the team's third goaltender behind Juuse Saros and Ville Husso, and did not receive any playing time. In 2016, Kähkönen started the tournament as the second goaltender option behind Veini Vehviläinen, but ended up playing more as the tournament progressed. Ultimately Kähkönen who led the team to its fourth gold medal, after being substituted for Vehviläinen against Canada junior team in the second period of the quarterfinals. Kähkönen made 21 saves in a 2–1 win against Sweden junior team in the semifinals, before helping his team beat Russia junior team 4–3 in the gold medal game in overtime, making 22 saves.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and honours

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kahkonen, Kaapo
1996 births
Living people
21st-century Finnish sportsmen
Charlotte Checkers (2010–) players
Colorado Avalanche players
Colorado Eagles players
Espoo Blues players
Finnish expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Finnish ice hockey goaltenders
Ice hockey people from Helsinki
Ice hockey players at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics
Iowa Wild players
Lukko players
Manitoba Moose players
Minnesota Wild draft picks
Minnesota Wild players
New Jersey Devils players
San Jose Sharks players
TuTo players
Youth Olympic gold medalists for Finland