Canadiens sign Kaapo Kahkonen to one-year contract

A traveling man has hopefully locked down a spot in one of the game’s biggest markets.

On Tuesday, the Montreal Canadiens signed free agent goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen to a one-year contract. The deal carries a cap hit of $1.15 million through the 2025-16 season.

Insider Frank Seravalli was the first to report the deal.

Kahkonen became an unrestricted free agent after his one-year, $1 million contract wrapped up this past season.

Kahkonen is hoping he can stay in Montreal for the entire season, as the Finnish backstop started the 2024-25 season with the Winnipeg Jets. However, he was placed on waivers in early October and was eventually claimed by the Colorado Avalanche. One month later, he was put back on waivers by the Avalanche, only to be re-claimed by the Jets. Then, prior to the trade deadline, he was traded to the Florida Panthers for Chris Driedger.

The 28-year-old played just one game in the NHL this past year, that coming with the Avs on Oct. 30. In splitting time with the Colorado Eagles, Manitoba Moose and Charlotte Checkers, Kahkonen posted a 14-20-2 record. With the Checkers, he went on a run in the Calder Cup Playoffs, going 12-6 with a 2.18 goals-against average, a .906 save percentage and one shutout. He helped Charlotte get to the Calder Cup Final, ultimately losing to the Vancouver Canucks‘ primary affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, in six games.

Across six NHL seasons, which included stops with the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils, Kahkonen has appeared in 140 games, posting a record of 49-68-15, with a 3.34 GAA, a .898 SV% and four shutouts.

In 109 AHL games, he has a respectable record of 56-40-19, a 2.59 GAA, a .910 SV% and 14 shutouts.

With Kahkonen on the roster, that sures up the goaltending position in Montreal, as starting Sam Montembeault is on the books through the 2026-27 season on a contract with an AAV of $3.15 million.