Jets & Panthers Swap Kaapo Kahkonen for Chris Driedger

The Winnipeg Jets have acquired goaltender Chris Driedger from the Florida Panthers in exchange for goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen. The move is a one-for-one goaltender swap that is a depth move for both teams.

Driedger, 30, is from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and will report directly to the Jets’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. Assuming Kahkonen will also report to the Panthers’ AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.

Driedger has 67 games of NHL experience between the Ottawa Senators, Florida Panthers, and the Seattle Kraken. He brings 212 games of AHL experience with a career .911 save percentage (SV%) and 2.73 goals-against average (GAA).

Driedger will split the crease with Domenic DiVincentiis as the Moose get into the closing months of the 2024-25 season.

The Moose currently sit eight points back of the Rockford IceHogs for a spot in the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs with 19 games left in their season.

As for Kahkonen, he’s had quite the season since signing with Winnipeg on July 1st. On October 10th, he was claimed on waivers by the Colorado Avalanche only to be reclaimed by Winnipeg on November 11th. Now, Kahkonen finds himself heading south and joining the Florida Panthers organization.

Kahkonen, 28, brings 140 games of NHL experience and 97 games of AHL experience to the Panthers organization.

He’ll rejoin former teammate Vitek Vanacek in Florida, both Vanacek and Kahkonen spent the 2023-24 season in New Jersey together. The Panthers bring the familiar teammates back together as they look to go on a deep playoff run of their own.

ITR 35: Round One Inside The Rink

Join Chris and Conrad as they catch you up on round one of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs as well as all of the firings across the NHL.
  1. ITR 35: Round One
  2. ITR 34: End Of The Road
  3. ITR 33: The Gr8 One
  4. ITR 32: The Final Countdown
  5. ITR 31: Let Them Fight

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Conrad Jack

Conrad Jack is a Manitoba based sportswriter covering the Winnipeg Jets (NHL) and the Manitoba Moose (AHL). He also covers the NHL Draft and World Junior Championship for ITR. He writes the Bargain Bin blog which covers NHL News & Rumours.

One thought on “Jets & Panthers Swap Kaapo Kahkonen for Chris Driedger”

Leave a Reply

Jake Guentzel Nikita Kucherov celebrating a goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning

NHL Playoffs: Lightning Grind Out First Win of Series in Game 3

Down 0-2 in the series and going on the road, the Tampa Bay Lightning knew they had their work cut out for them heading into Game 3. They were dealt another blow Friday night when Brandon Hagel was suspended one game for a late hit on Aleksander Barkov, making him ineligible to play in this […]

Read More

Montreal Canadiens Samuel Montembeault To Miss Game 4 With Injury

The Montreal Canadiens have announced that goaltender Samuel Montembeault will miss Game 4 vs. the Washington Capitals with a lower-body injury. He’s considered day to day, and didn’t take the morning skate. Montembault appeared to get hurt at the 4:30 mark of the second period after making a left pad save on Ryan Leonard. He […]

Read More

Edmonton Oilers Playoff Thoughts: Round 1, Game 4

It’s always nicer to write these after a win when everyone’s happier. Calvin Pickard got the start in Game 3, and I’m not too picky about how he played. The only goal out of 4 that I completely blame him for was the 4th one. The Oilers had just tied the game 3-3, and then the […]

Read More