Wild sends G Kahkonen to San Jose for Middleton
San Jose Sharks defenseman Jacob Middleton (left) shoots against the Los Angeles Kings on March 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Minnesota Wild goalie Kaapo Kahkonen (right) attempts a save on March 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
In a flurry of moves Monday ahead of the trade deadline, the Minnesota Wild both acquired a goalie and traded one.
After acquiring three-time Stanley Cup-champion goalie Marc-André Fleury from Chicago for a draft pick, the Wild sent goalie Kaapo Kahkonen and a 2022 fifth-round draft pick to the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Jacob Middleton.
Kahkonen, 25, was drafted in the fourth round (No. 109 overall) by Minnesota in the 2014 NHL Draft. He’s split time in net over the past two seasons for the Wild after starting five in the 2019-20 season. In his career, he’s tallied a 31-17 record with a 2.89 goals against average and a .907 save percentage.
Kahkonen is in the final year of his contract and is set to be a restricted free agent after the season.
Middleton, 26, has played parts of the past four seasons for San Jose, totaling 59 games. However, he’s gotten a bigger role this season, collecting 9 points (3-6=9) in 45 games. He was drafted in the seventh round (No. 210 overall) by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2014 NHL Draft.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound defenseman is in the final year of his entry-level contract and is set to be a restricted free agent after the season.
Going into Monday, Minnesota was tied with Nashville and the Los Angeles Kings for the fourth-best record in the Western Conference.
Also Monday morning, the Wild acquired a second-round pick from Arizona. That comes after adding two players in trades last week.
The NHL trade deadline is 2 p.m. Monday.