After a bad year and a serious surgery, Joonas Korpisalo isn’t going anywhere. The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed the pending free agent goaltender to a one-year contract extension for the 2022-23 season. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports that the deal is worth $1.3MM.
Korpisalo, 28, underwent hip surgery in early April, ending his season after just 22 appearances. Those games also went poorly, with the netminder posting an .877 save percentage and a whopping 4.15 goals-against average. That followed a 2020-21 season that also ended with disastrous numbers, making the extension surprising at this juncture.
General manager Jarmo Kekalainen released a statement to explain:
Joonas has been a consummate pro during his Blue Jackets career and just two years ago was coming off a season in which he was selected to play in the All-Star Game and had a record-setting performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. His 2021-22 season was derailed by injury, but we fully believe he will return to form, and are happy that he will continue to be a part of our team.
Still, the Blue Jackets already have their starter Elvis Merzlikins in place, and Korpisalo is taking a serious pay cut on this new contract. He made $3.4MM this season and carried a cap hit of $2.8MM, meaning he’ll cost the team a relatively small amount. With Daniil Tarasov also a pending restricted free agent and Jet Greaves not ready for the NHL, the team did need a second netminder.
Whether he can come back from injury and establish himself as a legitimate option in the NHL again remains to be seen. Four of Korpisalo’s seven seasons in the NHL have finished with a save percentage under .900, and the big netminder has a career number of .902. The team has continued to show plenty of trust in him but has rarely been rewarded, with his best season coming way back in 2015-16 when he posted a .920 save percentage as a rookie.
Of course, there was also that performance in the 2020 bubble playoffs that showed just how much potential there is in the 6’3″ frame. Korpisalo posted a .941 over nine games, including an 85-save performance against the Tampa Bay Lightning in a game that went to a fifth overtime period. If that’s the goaltender they’re signing, $1.3MM will be a huge bargain. If not, this could be his last chance in Columbus.
good deal for both sides
good call baji
Absolutely NAILED it. See the PHR mailbag for proof. Now I’ll try 2 for 2. During free agency the Jackets will sign Mark Borowiecki to add physicality to the blueline. Nashville would probably like to keep him, but with Tanner Jeannot they already have a policeman. No need for two with today’s salary cap.
Jarmo has said they likely won’t sign any FAs that aren’t young enough or have enough term to be in Columbus for years. I just don’t see Borowiecki fitting that.
pretty sure Boro was extended
Unfortunately, you are correct, they did extend him. There really isn’t a d-man available in free agency who brings a lot of physicality to the table. LeTang is decent, but too old and I don’t really think he’d be the same player outside of Pittsburgh. With guys like Crosby and Guentzel around, it’s a lot easier to pile up those assist. If the Jackets are to improve on the blueline, it will have to be done through trade.