Minnesota Wild: Prospect Kaapo Kahkonen has perfect week for Iowa Wild
By Luke Ryan
Kaapo Kahkonen is at a unique advantage when it comes to the Minnesota Wild’s goaltending prospects, purely in that before joining up with the Iowa Wild, he’d already been playing in a league against players at times near twice his age.
That of course didn’t mean that he’d instantly settle in or step up to the challenges of facing the best the American Hockey League has to offer. The Minnesota Wild were smart to bring in Andrew Hammond for a year as starter with the Iowa Wild, but in recent weeks Kaapo Kahkonen threatens to steal the crown much earlier than expected.
Across the past week, Kaapo had two starts in net for the Iowa Wild and across those posted a perfect 58 shots faced, 58 shots saved. Two shut-outs across two games and that was enough for to be recognised by the league as the AHL Player of the Week.
He may only have five appearances thus far but Kaapo Kahkonen already has three shutouts and a league leading save percentage at 0.972% and an astonishing 0.79 goals against average.
Nobody, not least the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild head office expected that level of performance instantly from the youngster.
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However, as stated, if he keeps it up their hands are surely going to be forced into sharing the more experienced Hammond’s starts further.
To be posting such elite numbers so early on is amazingly promising for the Minnesota Wild, who whilst they are currently comfortable relying on Devan Dubnyk, needed to identify the future between the pipes and look to have done that and then some!
I’d argue that if an injury were to occur to one of the Minnesota Wild goaltenders right now and you looked to the Iowa Wild for a backup, that Kaapo Kahkonen would be the guy I’d send.
Not necessarily with the plan of giving him ice-time in the NHL just yet, but as further reward for his performances. A nice little individual trophy from the AHL is sweet, don’t get me wrong, but recognition from your parent team; that’s far bigger.
Next. Four things the Wild can be thankful for. dark
With any luck, this level of form continues and come the end of the year, we’re sitting here asking whether next year is too soon for Kaapo Kahkonen to score some NHL time!