Kaapo Kahkonen

2022 - 3 - 21

Jacob Middleton

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The Hockey Writers"

Sharks Acquire Kaapo Kahkonen From Wild (The Hockey Writers)

The Minnesota Wild have sent goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen and a fifth-round pick to the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Jacob Middleton.

Already with a solid top-four, the Wild fill out their third pairing with a player that can also be relied on in a short-handed situation. Peter is in his third year with The Hockey Writers, covering the Toronto Maple Leafs and heading the Draft and Prospects section. For Kahkonen it’s tough as he is now going from a team that’s in a playoff spot, to one that is currently seventh in the Pacific Division. He still has a lot of promise as a potential starter and going to the San Jose Sharks, gives him the chance to make his mark and earn that opportunity. Now, he just makes a contending team like the Wild much deeper on the blue line with his presence. The potential was there for him to provide a steady presence in net for them in the future as his career was just starting off. The Sharks have relied on James Reimer (.916 SV%) and Adin Hill (.906) in net.

Report: Kaapo Kähkönen shipped to the San Jose Sharks for Jacob ... (Hockey Wilderness)

The goaltending roster continues to shift for the Minnesota Wild. With former Chicago Blackhawks goalie — reigning Vezina winner — Marc-André Fleury on the ...

The inconsistent goaltending has contributed to the Wild going 9-10-1 since February 1 and slipping into third in the Central Division. At 26-years old, Middleton has averaged around 19 minutes a night while contributing three goals and six assists in 45 GP for a mediocre and aging Sharks squad. With former Chicago Blackhawks goalie — reigning Vezina winner — Marc-André Fleury on the way in, the Wild had a crowded crease that needed to be dealt with.

2022 NHL Trade Deadline: Sharks acquire Wild goaltender Kaapo ... (Fear the Fin)

Jacob Middleton will be heading to Minnesota as a result.

It’s a difficult journey to climb through the minor leagues, especially when the team that drafted you has decided to not retain your rights. “He provides our club additional depth at the goaltending position this season and in the coming years.” On another team, in another system, maybe Middleton is a career AHL player. That new home will be St. Paul, as the Minnesota Wild acquired the defender in exchange for goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen and a fifth-round selection in 2022, announced by the Sharks front office this afternoon. In the 54 games, Kahkonen has posted a 31-17-4 record, 2 shutouts, 2.89 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. But the team drafted top goaltending prospect Jesper Wallstedt last summer, ensuring the goaltending pipeline will have a solid future, and today, they moved to acquire veteran Marc-Andre Fleury from the Chicago Blackhawks to shore up the net before playoffs.

Sharks Acquire Kaapo Kahkonen from Minnesota (NHL.com)

Sharks acquire goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen and a fifth-round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for defenseman Jake ...

Prior to joining Minnesota, Kahkonen spent two seasons with the Iowa Wild. During the 2019-20 season, he collected a 25-6-3 record, with a 2.07 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage in 34 games. He was signed by San Jose as a free agent on Sept. 7, 2017. In 54 career NHL games with Minnesota, Kahkonen has a 31-17-4 record, with a 2.89 goals-against average, a .907 save percentage and two shutouts. He led the AHL in shutouts in 2018-2019 (6) and 2019-20 (7). Internationally, Kahkonen has represented Finland on several occasions, including helping the team capture the gold medal at the 2016 World Junior Championships. In the tournament, he posted a 4-0 record with a 2.52 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage. Kahkonen, 25, has posted a 12-8-3 record with Minnesota this season, along with a 2.87 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in 25 games played.

Wild trade Kaapo Kahkonen, pick to Sharks for Jacob Middleton (Sportsnet.ca)

The Minnesota Wild have traded goaltender Kaapo Kakkonen and a 2022 fifth-round draft pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenceman Jacob ...

The big-bodied defender has suited up for a career-high 45 games with San Jose so far in 2021-22, averaging just over 19 minutes of ice per night. Sitting with a .908 save percentage this season after a Vezina-winning campaign in 2020-21, the 37-year-old is set to be an unrestricted free agent at the year's end. The Wainwright, Alta., native appeared in 14 games at the NHL level over the prior three seasons, spending a few campaigns in the AHL and ECHL before that.

Sharks' Kaapo Kahkonen: Headed out West (CBSSports.com)

Kahkonen was flipped to San Jose from Minnesota on Monday in a swap for Jacob Middleton and a 2022 fifth-round selection, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet ...