Claimed off Waivers: [COL] Avalanche claim G Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers from the Jets

[Freaky Styley]

To the Avs fans arguing in this thread, I think both things are true.

Goaltending wasn't the main reason they lost in back to back seasons, Nuke and Landy absences were, and to an extent Cale's suspension.

At the same time, even if those guys are in the lineup it's probably the #1 factor preventing them from them going all the way - case in point, Bob vs. Skinner last year & Hill's performance the year before.

What the Avs did with Kuemper is more the anomaly than the rule these days because of the crazy depth they had at other positions (Yes, I remember Osgood and Det), The lineup is thinner now, and I just think that with expansion and the talent level getting diluted, the speed of the game increasing, along with the goalie equipment changes scoring is up and it allows stars to feast. The talent gap between goalies also seems to be widening as we are in a bit of a lull of goaltending talent (10 guys & then 'the rest').

They need to tighten up defensively, first and foremost. When it goes bad it goes real bad. But they also need a guy to make a save when that happens. I hope this move is a signal that management is realizing with the lack of depth they've had since they won the Cup they can't afford to take half measures in goal and need to prioritize the position. I do think we see a move at some point before the playoffs unless Kahkonen really takes off. I'd have my eye on Gustavsson in Minnesota, depending on how he plays this season.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Seems like a good claim for Colorado. He's probably at least an upgrade in the short-term, and probably long-term over Annunen.

Still not really sure why Winnipeg chose Comrie over Kahkonen in the first place, but whatever.

I'd imagine familiarity and there is probably a good relationship between Comrie and Hellebuyck. Kahkonen wasn't bad in his small sample size with the Devils; after two years under constant barrage with the Sharks.

 

[CanadienShark]

For those interested, this cost Colorado $15,000, paid to Winnipeg and not counted against the cap.



Total number of claims: 10
Total compensation: $387,750

About damn time you showed up.

 

[Smitty426]

This is a good gamble by the Avalanche.

Though they've slipped a bit, Colorado is still one of the better defensive teams in the league, allowing the 7th fewest scoring chances and 11th fewest high-danger scoring chances again last season. They just need someone who won't kill them in net.

Which is what Georgiev is doing. His last nine starts dating back to last season have been brutal (5.04 GAA, .845 SV%). Annunen has been really good during the same stretch (2.32 GAA, .919 SV%) and has thrived on not giving up soft goals/making the easy saves. But his sample size is limited and he was an average AHL starter.

Kahkonen was strong with the Devils after getting shelled in San Jose. Colorado has had a lot of success stories in net thanks to Jussi Parkkila, I hope he can work his magic on countryman Kahkonen.

Agreed in the small sample KK was not bad. Although a beer league guy probably wasn't either for us last year!

Honestly if Fitz didn't go and get Allen, KK as Markys backup wound have been fine by me.

He played a calm game seemed to keep it in front of him, no flopping etc, compact abd a big man. Hope he does well for Avs

 

[AvStock]

Cap is a thing...

They won with meh goaltending proving its not required. You can also argue their last two seasons couldve went deeper if a certain someone didnt have a drug problem. Goaltending wasnt the issue.


Goaltending wasnt their issues with either of their losses against the kraken nor the Stars. It was depth scoring, which you can argue quite easily Landeskog and Nuke wouldve brought more than enough to get by those two series. You can stretch it to they could be going for their 4th Cup in a row right now.

Kuemper is a good goalie, unlike 4giev

 

[jimmysheva]

Kuemper was good. He had that eye injury which hurt his performance in the 2022 playoffs

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Kuemper was good. He had that eye injury which hurt his performance in the 2022 playoffs

He almost cost us the Cup.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Is he starting today?

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

Kuemper is a good goalie, unlike 4giev

Kuemper was a good goalie for a couple of seasons. Not sure I'd still call him a good goalie today.

 

[nergish]

I've seen a fair bit of this guy over the years in the Pacific division. Never much liked him.

Technique is good, big frame... he just doesn't seem to have the compete. I've seen him just casually watching loose pucks in his crease while letting the play unfold. Dom Hasek would have tossed his stick and pounced on it with his blocker.

He's a "just happy to be here" kind of guy to me.

 

[benfranklin]

I think a lot of Avs fans know/knew that Annunen would never be an NHL guy. All hoping, but

Kuemper is a good goalie, unlike 4giev

Theyre both in that middle to bottom tier of starters.

 

[Avs9296]

I think a lot of Avs fans know/knew that Annunen would never be an NHL guy. All hoping, but

Theyre both in that middle to bottom tier of starters.

Kuemper PRE eye injury was a much better goalie than Georgiev. Now they are probably about the same.

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

I think a lot of Avs fans know/knew that Annunen would never be an NHL guy. All hoping, but

Theyre both in that middle to bottom tier of starters.

I think a lot of Avs fans would like to see Annunen play more this season than a single period at the end of a game where the wheels had already come off before writing him off. He's still got a very good chance of outplaying Georgiev.

And my hopes are more focused on Nabokov going forward. If his success in the KHL translates, he'll be the goalie of the future in Denver.

 

[AvStock]

Kuemper is STILL a good goalie, Girard is a BAD defensemen

 

[Cypher]

Kuemper is STILL a good goalie, Girard is a BAD defensemen

Okay Kuemper, we get it, you wanted to stay on the Avs instead of being cap dumped to LAK, you don't have to post on your burner account 10 times. Avs won the cup in SPITE of Kuemper 1-eyed goalie plays, not because of him. Avs were never gonna pay him that 5.25m x 5 years that we swindled off WSH.

 

[sting101]

What's stopping Annunen from taking the reins?

 

[the_fan]

What's stopping Annunen from taking the reins?

Nothing is stopping him, he’s just not stopping pucks. He relieved Georgiev in both games and in both games allowed a goal like right away, on 1st or 2nd shot or something like that

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

Nothing is stopping him, he’s just not stopping pucks. He relieved Georgiev in both games and in both games allowed a goal like right away, on 1st or 2nd shot or something like that

That is true, but I'm struggling to put most of the blame on him for those goals, and think he should get a start or two.

In the game against Vegas, the first goal was a one timer from Eichel on the PP that deflected in off Stone's hand, which isn't something most goalies are going to stop anyway.

Then Barbashev created a turnover and walked through half the team before throwing a slick backhander back across to the top corner. Again, hard to fault him when the team failed him so badly.

Against Columbus, he should have stopped the first goal he gave up, and got a big piece of it, but it hopped over his pad and bounced in. This one is on him, but it was also a bit of a lucky bounce for Columbus.

On the second goal he gave up, there were 4 Avs players standing around watching the play, which is why the Jackets got 3 shots in quick succession, and why Chinakov was wide open in front of the net. Maybe Annunen should have stopped it, but that goal was a total team failure, and not just on him.

 

[Hinterland]

That is true, but I'm struggling to put most of the blame on him for those goals, and think he should get a start or two.

In the game against Vegas, the first goal was a one timer from Eichel on the PP that deflected in off Stone's hand, which isn't something most goalies are going to stop anyway.

Then Barbashev created a turnover and walked through half the team before throwing a slick backhander back across to the top corner. Again, hard to fault him when the team failed him so badly.

Against Columbus, he should have stopped the first goal he gave up, and got a big piece of it, but it hopped over his pad and bounced in. This one is on him, but it was also a bit of a lucky bounce for Columbus.

On the second goal he gave up, there were 4 Avs players standing around watching the play, which is why the Jackets got 3 shots in quick succession, and why Chinakov was wide open in front of the net. Maybe Annunen should have stopped it, but that goal was a total team failure, and not just on him.

True. Also, coming in cold isn't the same as having the opportunity to prepare for starts.

I'm not looking to make excuses for Annunen but he doesn't seem get the same kind of opportunities as Georgiev this season despite clearly outplaying Georgiev last season. Which is curious given how poor Georgiev is playing.

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

True. Also, coming in cold isn't the same as having the opportunity to prepare for starts.

I'm not looking to make excuses for Annunen but he doesn't seem get the same kind of opportunities as Georgiev this season despite clearly outplaying Georgiev last season. Which is curious given how poor Georgiev is playing.

I don't find it curious at all. Georgiev, for all his flaws, has at least shown he can be a decent NHL goalie for more than just a 14 game stretch, and led the NHL in wins for each of the last two seasons. Annunen is much more of an unknown, and hasn't exactly forced the Avs hand with his play so far this year. I think we'll probably see Georgiev get a few more chances to find his game again before they start rolling the dice with Annunen or Kahkonen.

 

[Hinterland]

I don't find it curious at all. Georgiev, for all his flaws, has at least shown he can be a decent NHL goalie for more than just a 14 game stretch, and led the NHL in wins for each of the last two seasons. Annunen is much more of an unknown, and hasn't exactly forced the Avs hand with his play so far this year. I think we'll probably see Georgiev get a few more chances to find his game again before they start rolling the dice with Annunen or Kahkonen.

3.02/89,7%
2.28/92,8%

How much more of a difference between two goalies would be needed before it could be considered "forcing hands"?

A season average save percentage of below 90% is horrible. There's no other way to put it. That can also be caused by a horrible team in front of a goalie...but when your other goalie stops over 3% more it may be time to give him a chance.

And no. Coming cold into already lost games is not what I consider a fair chance.

 

[jabubenice]

What's stopping Annunen from taking the reins?

his cheeks!!

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

3.02/89,7%
2.28/92,8%

How much more of a difference between two goalies would be needed before it could be considered "forcing hands"?

A season average save percentage of below 90% is horrible. There's no other way to put it. That can also be caused by a horrible team in front of a goalie...but when your other goalie stops over 3% more it may be time to give him a chance.

And no. Coming cold into already lost games is not what I consider a fair chance.

Annunen played 14 games last season. 11 were against non-playoff teams. He was 1-4-1 against the East, and gave up 3+ goals 6 times. His two shutouts were against an inept Blackhawks team. Without those two games against ECHL level competition, he was only 0.912 SV%. Still better than Georgiev, but again, only 3 playoff teams.

And this year, he's given up 4 goals on 17 shots. Yes, he came in cold and the team didn't help him at all, so I agree that he deserves a better chance, but he's not doing himself any favors so far this year. That's opens the window for Georgiev to get 2nd and 3rd chances, instead of Annunen taking over the net.

 

[Bender]

What's stopping Annunen from taking the reins?

Chocolate I think

 

[Bleedred]

Kuemper is STILL a good goalie, Girard is a BAD defensemen

Kuemper looked like Patrick Roy yesterday afternoon.

That's if 59 year old Patrick Roy had to play in an NHL game in 2024.

I'm pretty sure Kuemper is no longer a good goalie, unless you just think last year was a down year and he'll bounce back this season, which he may, but I'm kind of skeptical. He was also significantly outplayed by a guy that was 30 years old and pretty much in his second full NHL season last year behind the same team.