Arizona Coyotes claim Jonas Johansson off waivers from Colorado Avalanche

The Arizona Coyotes have claimed goaltender Jonas Johansson off waivers from the Colorado Avalanche, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Friday.

Johansson, 27, split the 2021–22 season between the Avalanche and Florida Panthers, posting a 3–4–1 record and an .852 save percentage in 11 games.

The 6’4″, 205-pound Swede is signed for the 2022–23 season at a $750,000 National Hockey League cap hit.

The Coyotes have reportedly been searching for a backup goaltender to play behind presumptive starter Karel Vejmelka this summer, with Jon Gillies, Ivan Prosvetov, and David Tendeck signed more for organizational depth purposes.

Vejmelka, 26, gave the Coyotes a fighting chance more often than not last season, ultimately posting a 13–32–3 record and an .898 save percentage in 52 games. He played his best when he had a reliable backup in Scott Wedgewood, who the Coyotes shipped off to the Dallas Stars at the 2022 trade deadline.

It remains to be seen whether Johansson will occupy the Coyotes’ backup goaltender spot this season. Selected in the third round by the Buffalo Sabres at the 2014 NHL Draft, Johansson has gone 9–13–4 with an .883 save percentage in 32 career games with Buffalo, Colorado, and Florida.

Johansson stopped nine of 10 shots for the Avalanche in his last pre-season appearance with the club, mopping up for Alexandar Georgiev in the third period of a 7–1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday.