The Jets signed Eric Comrie on July 1st to a two-year deal and our conversation with him at the time was he was coming with the expectation he’d be the backup to two-time Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck. Later that day Winnipeg announced they had also signed Kaapo Kahkonen to a one-year deal as he looked to give his career a boost after wasting away with the San Jose Sharks.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Many people felt the Finnish netminder who had 139 games of NHL experience had the advantage over Comrie who had played 58 NHL games to date. I wasn’t so certain and it was a bit curious that Comrie was the backup for the final two exhibition games of the preseason. Some pointed out to me that Kahkonen started two preseason games to Comrie’s one, which of course is true.
When Connor Hellebuyck was away from the team due to a family matter there was some uncertainty as to his status for game one of the season which necessitated the Jets keeping up both Comrie and Kahkonen rather than placing one of them on waivers for purposes of assignment to the Moose of the AHL.
But with 37 back in the fold the Jets chose to use Comrie as the backup in game one of the regular season in Edmonton instead of Kahkonen. Thatseemed to suggest the writing was on the wall and sure enough today it was announced by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet that Kahkonen has been placed on waivers.
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