The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club has announced that they have claimed gifted off waivers.
The 28-year-old spent the 2023-24 season with both the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils, achieving a combined record of 7-24-3, a .898 save percentage, a 3.64 goals-against average, and one shutout. He was traded to the Devils on March 8 of last season, finishing with a .923 save percentage and a 2.51 GAA in six games with New Jersey.
Since entering the NHL in the 2019-20 season, he has recorded a 49-67-15 record, a .899 save percentage, a 3.33 GAA, and four shutouts across 139 games with the Devils, Sharks, and Minnesota Wild. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 217 pounds, he achieved a career-high 16 wins in the 2020-21 season with Minnesota, and set a personal best GAA of 2.87 the following season.
Before his NHL career, Kahkonen played two seasons for the AHL’s Iowa Wild from 2018-20. In his rookie year, he was selected for the All-Star Game and led the league with six shutouts. The next season, he received the Baz Bastien Memorial Award as the league’s best goaltender, finishing with the most wins (25) and shutouts (7) among AHL goalies.
Originally from Helsinki, Finland, Kahkonen played in Finland’s professional leagues from 2013-18, achieving a .918 save percentage, a 2.43 GAA, and nine shutouts in 117 Liiga games. He was named the Mestis League’s Best Goaltender in 2014-15 and won the Finnish Junior league championship in 2013-14, as well as being the Mestis Rookie of the Year in 2014-15.
On the international front, Kahkonen represented Finland at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, helping secure a gold medal with a 4-0-0 record, a .909 save percentage, and a 2.52 GAA. He also competed in the Under-18 championships in 2013 and 2014, winning a bronze medal in 2013.
Kahkonen was originally selected by the Minnesota Wild in the fourth round (109th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft.
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