Minnesota Wild: How soon is too soon to promote Kaapo Kahkonen?

The Minnesota Wild have, in Kaapo Kahkonen, a player that would appear to be the future between the pipes.

Given the thirty-plus age range of all other goaltenders in the Minnesota Wild organisation; whether that be with the NHL team or with their AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild, you have to wonder when they will make the call to bring Kaapo Kahkonen up for more than just a rewarding seat on the bench.

In recent years, Matt Murray is one of the few goaltenders to achieve an NHL starting job within the early years of his twenties, as opposed to the latter. Even then, his achieving the number one role was partly a result of the Vegas Golden Knights’ pick-up of Marc-Andre Fleury in the Expansion Draft.

Andrei Vasilevskiy is probably the only other name that sticks out as a younger goalie managing to breakthrough. He is the bona-fide number one with a dominant Tampa Bay Lightning squad.

These two are firmly the exception to the rule these days and even then, they earned their dues; Murray toiled for two years in the American Hockey League before realising his NHL dream. Likewise, Vasilevskiy had his season in the KHL and at least a solid season of AHL experience before really making the breakthrough to the big league.

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By comparison, Kaapo Kahkonen is the relative veteran having had three solid seasons in the Finnish Elite League; a professional league playing against men, followed by his half campaign already with the Iowa Wild, where he seems to have usurped the far more experienced Andrew Hammond as their number one.

At 22 years old, a promotion to the Minnesota Wild roster sooner rather than later wouldn’t be all that crazy.

Patrick Roy was a Conn Smythe winner as a 20 year-old and Martin Brodeur, a Calder Trophy winner as a 21 year-old, so it’s not without precedence to see a goalie succeed straight away in the NHL. Of course, both of those names were truly elite and actually changed the way goalies play.

Now, I’m not saying that Kaapo Kahkonen should be promoted to the Minnesota Wild roster to ride the pine. Sitting on the bench isn’t going to help his game; the angles he’s used to are those of an international-sized rink, so there’s still a little more to learn in North America.

However, given that Devan Dubnyk has had a lot of struggles of late and given the way the Minnesota Wild’s season appears to be tailing off more towards the Jack Hughes sweep stakes than another play-off appearance, would it be the worst thing to do?

It’s that sink or swim mentality.

Fellow Iowa Wild goaltender, Andrew Hammond swam upon being thrown into the NHL spotlight, albeit at an older age and having competed in the NCAA for four years prior. However, his 0.941 save percentage in 24 games for an Ottawa Senators team that wasn’t exactly elite, highlights that with the right situation, crazy things can happen.

Maybe Kaapo Kahkonen would be able to post equally elite numbers if given the chance in the big league. Maybe the time he’s spent in Finland playing against men makes a big difference.

Or maybe he’s more like the rather average way that Devan Dubnyk began his NHL career with the Edmonton Oilers. Dubnyk’s 19 games saw him post a save percentage of 0.889, not exactly setting the world on fire. However, we must also point out that this was the same Oilers that played themselves into multiple first overall picks through that era.

Based on what we’re seeing with the Iowa Wild this year, I think Kaapo Kahkonen is ready to face the tougher competition that a promotion to the Minnesota Wild line-up would bring. Maybe it’d also get the team playing a bit of improved defense; protecting the youngster and all that.

His AHL numbers aren’t elite, but I don’t think that matters right now. If the Minnesota Wild’s season continues on as poorly as it has been, then it’s time for big change. Kaapo Kahkonen can lead that charge!