The Columbus Blue Jackets feel as if they have found the next man to step up between the pipes, taking over for what Sergei Bobrovsky once was for them. The Jackets gave Joonas Korpisalo a two-year contract this past week, agreeing to pay him $5.6 million over the next two seasons. The agreement came through last Friday, rewarding the young goaltender for a tremendous 2019-2020 season that may not be over just yet.
Korpisalo has set career highs in games played, wins, and goals-against-average in a single season, as he took over as the starter after Bobrovsky left in free agency last summer. In the first season as a starter, he found his way to the All-Star Game this past February, despite missing 24 games due to a knee injury in December. The former third-round draft pick has gone 19-12-5 with a 2.60 goals against average and a .911 save percentage in 37 games this season. Over 120 career NHL appearances, he has a record of 60-43-14.
Elsewhere, the Winnipeg Jets officially parted ways with veteran Dustin Byfuglien, resolving their grievance with the 35-year-old dating back to his suspension before the season. The forward immediately becomes an unrestricted free agent, as he was suspended last September for not reporting to training camp. He was initially granted a leave, but later suspended to save the team salary cap space. He challenged the move with the NHLPA in November, a case that has been dealt with ever since. The two sides decided to settle that grievance by just ending his contract with them, as he was set to make $8 million and $6 million over the next two seasons respectively. He played in just 42 games this past season due to a lower-body injury, including just 10 games after December 29th. In 869 career NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers, and Jets, he has recorded 177 goals and 525 points, with one Stanley Cup win as a member of the Blackhawks in 2010 under his belt.
Korpisalo has set career highs in games played, wins, and goals-against-average in a single season, as he took over as the starter after Bobrovsky left in free agency last summer. In the first season as a starter, he found his way to the All-Star Game this past February, despite missing 24 games due to a knee injury in December. The former third-round draft pick has gone 19-12-5 with a 2.60 goals against average and a .911 save percentage in 37 games this season. Over 120 career NHL appearances, he has a record of 60-43-14.
Elsewhere, the Winnipeg Jets officially parted ways with veteran Dustin Byfuglien, resolving their grievance with the 35-year-old dating back to his suspension before the season. The forward immediately becomes an unrestricted free agent, as he was suspended last September for not reporting to training camp. He was initially granted a leave, but later suspended to save the team salary cap space. He challenged the move with the NHLPA in November, a case that has been dealt with ever since. The two sides decided to settle that grievance by just ending his contract with them, as he was set to make $8 million and $6 million over the next two seasons respectively. He played in just 42 games this past season due to a lower-body injury, including just 10 games after December 29th. In 869 career NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers, and Jets, he has recorded 177 goals and 525 points, with one Stanley Cup win as a member of the Blackhawks in 2010 under his belt.
