The Montreal Canadiens have made an adjustment to their roster ahead of their December 7 game against the St. Louis Blues by recalling goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen from the Laval Rocket, their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. The team revealed that goalie Samuel Montembaugh is ill, prompting them to bring up Kahkonen to serve as the backup to Jakub Dobes for the upcoming match.
Kahkonen has played in nine games for Laval this season, holding a 6-2-0 record with an .895 save percentage and a 2.81 goals-against average. This follows the Canadiens signing the 29-year-old netminder to a one-year deal worth $1.15 million during the offseason. Over his six NHL seasons, Kahkonen has appeared in 140 games across stints with the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche, amassing a 49-68-15 record and a 3.34 goals-against average.
Fan Take: This move is significant for Canadiens fans looking for stability in goal, especially with an experienced goalie like Kahkonen stepping in. It also underscores how critical depth in the goaltending position is for teams navigating a long season, which can influence game outcomes and player development across the league.
