Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Teams Are Interested In Sharks Kahkonen But Concerned With Lack Of Playoff Experience
Elliotte Friedman reported that teams are interested in San Jose Sharks goalie Kaapo Kahkoen but are concerned about his lack of playoff experience.
"Total wild-card: Kaapo Kahkonen. An unrestricted free agent, and his underlying numbers were extremely good for much of the season. Several Sharks are more than happy to tell you Kahkonen and MacKenzie Blackwood deserve much better than what they've had to deal with. Kahkonen said experience has taught him to "slow down the game. I understand so much more." Teams definitely noticed. What they worry about is he doesn't have a resume in high-pressure games. So, he's a bit of an unknown," Friedman writes.
Kahkonen has never played in a playoff game at the NHL or AHL level. Teams at the deadline looking to acquire a goalie will likely want someone with experience. At 27, Kahkonen has garnered enough regular-season experience to receive attention. His improvement in his game this season is noticed, as Friedman reports.
No teams that are interested in Kahkonen have been named; there is plenty of speculation that can be done.
Take the Philadelphia Flyers. With the Carter Hart legal situation, they are now down to Cal Petersen and Sam Ersson. They likely won't be going all in while they sit firmly in a playoff position. Hart's career could be in jeopardy, and bringing in a 27-year-old goalie could benefit their future.
Other teams, like the Los Angeles Kings or the New Jersey Devils, could be interested in acquiring Kahkonen.
The Sharks and Devils have a trade history, and trading a goalie within the same conference is rare, making the Devils a better trade partner. With Vitek Vanecek and Nico Daws manning the crease, there isn't much experience. Vanecek has some from last season's playoff run but didn't fare well and lost his starting job to Akira Schmid, who is in the AHL now.
The Kings looked like they had their goalie situation sorted, with Cam Talbot playing terrifically. He was named to the All-Star game, too. His numbers have slipped, and David Rittich has begun to take starts away.
Rittich was supposed to be the team's third-string goalie who plays in the AHL. Phoenix Copley tore his ACL and is out for the season.
With a lack of goaltending depth, the Kings could be in the market to bring in a goalie.
Their last look at Kahkonen was a frustrating one. Kahkonen made 44 saves and helped the Sharks beat the Kings in a shootout.
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Head coach David Quinn and GM Mike Grier have said that Mackenzie Blackwood has every opportunity to be a No. 1 NHL goaltender. Based on how he's been talked about, San Jose looks to be making Blackwood their guy for the future.
Trade deadline rumors are firing off like crazy. With the deadline precisely a month away, expect rumors to continue to pile up for the San Jose Sharks.
Make sure you bookmark THN's San Jose Sharks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
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