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The #Oilers have agreed to terms with free agent goaltender Mikko Koskinen on a one-year contract. The 29-year-old just completed his 5th season in the KHL & 4th with SKA Saint Petersburg (1.99 GAA & .926 save percentage in that span). pic.twitter.com/YVElP2AR8p
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 1, 2018
After a short internet freak out that took place about a week ago, the Oilers make it official. They’ve signed a large man from Finland to backup Cam Talbot in 2018-19.
WHAT WE KNOW
Koskinen has killed it in the KHL. That’s good! Over his last five seasons, he’s finished with no worse than a .915 SV%. That’s impressive. He’s coming off a season finishing .931. That’s great. Koskinen split time with Russia native Igor Shestyorkin who finished with an impressive .933 on the season. Koskinen is an Olympian for Finland and a two timer representative for Finland at the IIHF.
A second round draft pick of the New York Islanders in 2009, Koskinen played just four games with the Islanders in 2010-11. Koskinen has a very good chance to end up on the opening night roster in 2018-19 behind Cam Talbot. It certainly turns up the heat on Al Montoya.
IT’S A LITTLE PRICEY
$2 M salary plus $500k signing bonus. Deal can't be signed and registered until July 1 https://t.co/7Xg5wuLoSd
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 1, 2018
2.5MM is about 1MM more than I would’ve liked for this deal. The Oilers can bury Montoya and 95% of his salary in Bakersfield, so there’s no trouble there. Oilers will need to be very careful with every dime going forward. No doubt, they’re pulling for the salary cap to go up as much as it possibly can.
If Koskinen can play a steady 30 games in 2018-19, it will surely take a load off of Cam Talbot’s back.