Florida Panthers goaltender Chris Driedger (60) congratulates goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) after an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning Monday, March 3, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
March 06, 2025 - 12:42 PM
WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Jets acquired Chris Driedger from the Florida Panthers for Kaapo Kahkonen in a swap of depth goaltenders Thursday.
Driedger, who hasn't played in the NHL this season, was 10-6-4 with an .878 save percentage and a 2.97 goals-against average in 20 appearances with the American Hockey League's Charlotte Checkers in 2024-25.
The 30-year-old from Winnipeg is 31-24-5 with a .917 save percentage and a 2.45 GAA in 67 career NHL appearances with four teams spread across seven seasons. Driedger will provide cover behind Connor Hellebuyck and Eric Comrie for the Jets.
Kahkonen was at training camp with Winnipeg before getting claimed on waivers by the Colorado Avalanche in October. He played one NHL game and two with the club's AHL affiliate before the Jets reclaimed the netminder in November.
The 28-year-old Finn was 6-14-0 with an .885 save percentage and a 3.34 GAA in 22 appearances with the AHL's Manitoba Moose in 2024-25. Kahkonen is 49-68-15 with a .898 save percentage and a 3.34 GAA in 140 NHL appearances with four teams over six seasons.
The Panthers acquired goaltender Vitek Vanecek from the San Jose Sharks earlier this week to play behind No. 1 option Sergei Bobrovsky.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 6, 2025.
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