The New Jersey Devils and the San Jose Sharks have made a swap of goalies. San Jose and New Jersey have made the Kaapo Kahkonen and Vitek Vanecek trade happen. News of the deal came late in the Friday afternoon trade deadline frenzy. The trade also includes a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Kaapo Kahkonen and Vitek Vanecek Involved in Trade For Each Other
Kahkonen is no stranger to getting dealt during a trade deadline. The 27-year-old was shipped to the Bay Area by the Minnesota Wild at the 2022 deadline. He was part of a deal that defenceman Jake Middleton and a draft choice.
Kahkonen has a 6-20-3 record this season with a .895 save percentage and 3.81 goals-against average. However, this is with a struggling San Jose team that is rebuilding. He’s in the final year of a contract that sees him make $2.75. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Vanecek has played for the Washington Capitals and the Devils in his four-year NHL career. The 28-year-old has an .890 save percentage and 3.18 goals-against average in 32 games with the Devils this season. He has one more year left on a three-year contract with a cap hit of $3.4 million.
What it Means
Both goalies get a fresh start in a new location. However, Kahkonen is going to have to battle Jake Allen for time in the crease in New Jersey. At least he’ll get to play on a team that has a realistic shot at a Stanley Cup Playoff spot.
Vanecek gets a shot to take the number one spot on a rebuilding team. The Sharks have struggled at times this season. However, the team could be in line for the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. San Jose has been stocking up for the next couple drafts and Vanecek could be the team’s goalie at the ground floor.
More must-reads: