Avalanche claim Kahkonen off waivers

There is now a third goaltender in the rotation.

You just had a sense this was coming.

The Colorado Avalanche have claimed goaltender Kappo Kahkonen off of waivers. He was put on by the Winnipeg Jets yesterday afternoon.

Kahkonen was placed on waivers yesterday because of a three-goalie situation for the Jets involving Eric Comrie and Connor Hellebuyck. Now, he joins another three-goalie rotation in Colorado with Jusuts Annunen and Alexandar Georgiev.

The 28-year-old Finnish goaltender will join fellow Fins Mikko Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen. Kahkonen has spent a five-year career on four different teams, now joining his fifth in Colorado. In his career of 139 games, he has 49 wins, a goals-against average of 3.33, and a save percentage of .899. He also has four career shutouts.

After game one in Las Vegas where the Avs lost 8-4 on 22 shots, there were already some doubts among goaltenders. Georgiev was shelled for five goals with a .668 save percentage. Annunen didn’t fare much better at a .500 save percentage and two goals allowed, along with a third disallowed goal too.

Don’t expect Kahkonen to slot in as a starter but rather as a backup to Georgiev, possibly spending splitting playing time with him. This may signal Annunen returning to the AHL with the Colorado Eagles after a rough start for both netminders this season.

Kahkonen is a cheap deal in net with only a $1 million cap hit. Time will tell if he is available for selection for Saturday night’s home opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets. What do you think of the claim? Let us know in the comments below!