DALLAS, TX - APRIL 16: San Jose Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (34) makes the save during the game between the Dallas Stars and the San Jose Sharks on April 16, 2022 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

Sharks, Kahkonen avoid arbitration with 2-year deal

4 years ago
Icon Sportswire / Getty

The San Jose Sharks re-signed restricted free-agent goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen to a two-year contract, the team announced Monday.

The deal carries an average annual value of $2.75 million, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Kahkonen was one of 24 RFAs to file for salary arbitration before Sunday's deadline.

"Kaapo has shown potential to be a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL and impressed us when he joined our team in the last part of the season," general manager Mike Grier said in a statement. "We are excited to have him with us."

The 25-year-old posted a .912 save percentage and a 2.87 goals against average in 36 games last season, split between the Sharks and the Minnesota Wild. San Jose acquired him, along with a fifth-round pick, in exchange for defenseman Jacob Middleton at last year's trade deadline.

Kahkonen, a 6-foot-2 Finn, was originally a fourth-round pick by the Wild in 2014. He owns a .908 save percentage in 65 NHL appearances across three seasons.

The Sharks now have three NHL-caliber goaltenders under contract for the coming season: Kahkonen, James Reimer, and Adin Hill. It's possible, however, that one is traded before the 2022-23 campaign gets underway.

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