The Montreal Canadiens have brought in multiple new players this off-season. Their two most notable additions, who they acquired from separate trades, are defenseman Noah Dobson and forward Zack Bolduc. Yet, they also brought in some new depth players this summer through free agency.
On July 1, the Canadiens added to their goalie depth by signing netminder Kaapo Kahkonen to a one-year, $1.15 million contract. While this is one of the Canadiens' smaller moves of summer, it also has the potential to be a good one for the Original Six club.
With this addition, the Canadiens have brought in another goalie with a good amount of NHL experience. This is certainly not a bad thing, as NHL teams can never have enough experienced depth between the pipes. Furthermore, Kahkonen now also offers them another potential option for their backup goalie spot if they feel youngster Jakub Dobes would benefit from more time in the AHL.
Yet, even if Kahkonen ends up starting the season in the AHL with the Laval Rocket, he will still be a good goalie to have around. He would have the potential to help out Laval tremendously and would also be a clear call-up candidate for the Canadiens when injuries arise.
Thus, there is truly no risk in this minor move for the Habs, and it will be fascinating to see how much of an impact Kahkonen can make next season from here.
New Canadiens Star Should Be Perfect FitEarlier this off-season, the Montreal Canadiens made a significant trade. They acquired star defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders in exchange for forward Emil Heineman and picks Nos. 16 and 17 of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The Canadiens then immediately made Dobson a long-term part of their future, as they signed him to an eight-year, $76 million contract.
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