Jets tap Comrie as backup goalie to Hellebuyck

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This article was published 10/10/2024 (361 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets have finally decided on who their backup goaltender will be.

In a bit of a surprising move, Kaapo Kahkonen was placed on waivers Thursday afternoon, clearing the way for Eric Comrie to at least start the season serving as the understudy to Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck.

Kahkonen will report to the Manitoba Moose as long as another team doesn’t make a claim by Friday afternoon. The only cost would be picking up his one-year, $1 million contract.

Comrie is signed to a two-year deal that pays him $825,000. He’s not expected to see a ton of action behind the workhorse Hellebuyck, who stopped all 30 shots he faced in Winnipeg’s 6-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night to begin the 2024-25 season. Comrie and Hellebuyck are good friends away from the rink and previously worked together for three seasons starting in the fall of 2016.

Coming into training camp, Kahkonen was viewed as having the inside track. The 28-year-old from Finland is a former American Hockey League goaltender of the year who has played in 139 career NHL games with the Minnesota Wild and San Jose Sharks.

Comrie, 29, was drafted by the Jets in 2013 and holds numerous franchise records with the Moose. He’s appeared in 57 career games with Winnipeg, the Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres.

The Jets will now be down to 22 players on the active roster, which is one under the maximum. They also have three players on injured reserve — defencemen Ville Heinola and Logan Stanley and forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan.

Kahkonen’s demotion would allow the Jets to bank slightly more cap space, given his higher salary, which could prove beneficial by the trade deadline. Perhaps the organization is also hoping — because of the bigger salary hit — he’d be less likely of the two netminders to be claimed.

Should he get to the Moose, Kahkonen would serve as a job-share partner with young prospect Thomas Milic, who is coming off a terrific rookie season. Winnipeg would then likely send Domenic DiVincentiis to the ECHL to start his pro career coming out of junior. Manitoba opens their season this weekend in Iowa.

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MOVE ALONG, FOLKS: The Jets are trying to play faster on the ice this season, and now they’re hoping fans will be able to move a little quicker as well as they flock downtown to watch the hockey team play starting with Friday’s home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks.

A new contactless security screening at Canada Life Centre is designed to keep the traffic moving.

True North has partnered with Evolv Technology for their AI-based Evolv Express, which the organization says will bring a “guest-first approach to venue entry, allowing fans to move through screening at their natural walking pace without always needing to empty bags or pockets.”

Winnipeg is the 11th NHL market to adopt contactless security screening.

“We know that guests’ experience at Canada Life Centre is about more than the great entertainment on the ice or on the stage, and we are continually working to make big and little changes that will improve their time in our venue,” Kevin Donnelly, Senior Vice President of Venues & Entertainment, said in a statement.

“Our new Evolv Express technology has made venue entry more convenient and a lot quicker and is especially reducing lines during peak entry times for high-attendance events.”

Evolv uses sensor technology and AI to differentiate between threats and everyday types of metal people may have, such as cellphones and keys.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg