AHL Pocket book: Western Convention goalies in highlight

An apprenticeship within the American Hockey League is a near-must for prime NHL goalie prospects.One week after 5 prospects from Japanese Convention groups’ AHL associates, we head to the Western Convention: Kaapo Kahkonen, Iowa (Minnesota Wild)A season after pairing with Andrew Hammond in Iowa, the 23-year-old has turn into the veteran within the Iowa goaltending image with rookie Mat Robson.Kahkonen (6-foot-2, 214 kilos) is 6-2-Zero with a 2.48 goals-against common and .909 save share in eight video games. Iowa (Eight-Three-2-1) is in a first-place tie with Milwaukee (Nashville Predators) within the Central Division.Chosen by Minnesota within the fourth spherical (No. 109) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Kahkonen was 20-23-12 with a 2.20 GAA and .920 save share in 56 video games for Lukko in Liiga, Finland’s prime skilled league. He was 17-22-Four with a 2.78 GAA and .908 save share in Iowa final season earlier than Hammond took over within the Calder Cup Playoffs. Josef Korenar, San Jose (San Jose Sharks) The 21-year-old broke into the AHL final season as an undrafted prospect and instantly made an affect.Korenar (6-1, 185) signed with the Sharks as an undrafted free agent July 13, 2017 and performed 9 video games with HC Dukla Jihlava within the Czech Extraliga in 2017-18 earlier than making the full-time leap to the AHL. He was 23-Eight-2 with a 2.54 GAA and .911 save share in 34 video games as an AHL rookie. He was additionally chosen to play within the AHL All-Star Basic and later took full management of the No. 1 job within the playoffs.Korenar has stored that grip on the beginning job in his second AHL season. The Sharks traded veteran Antoine Bibeau, Korenar’s AHL companion final season, to the Colorado Avalanche on Sept. 27. Korenar is Three-Three-1 with a 2.27 GAA and .914 save share in seven video games. Kevin Lankinen, Rockford (Chicago Blackhawks) Additionally undrafted, the 24-year-old (6-2, 190) has made himself a powerful contender for future work with the Blackhawks. After splitting final season between Rockford and the ECHL, Lankinen helped Finland to first place on the 2019 IIHF World Championship by going 7-1 with a 1.50 goals-against common and .942 save share that put him in competitors with Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay Lightning) for prime goaltending honors on the event. Lankinen shut out Russia 1-Zero with 32 saves within the semifinal and completed Finland’s run to the title with 43 saves in opposition to Canada in a Three-1 win.Lankinen signed with the Blackhawks on Could 21, 2018. Earlier than becoming a member of the Chicago group, he had a standout Liiga profession that featured 4 seasons with HIFK Helsinki. An damage has slowed the beginning of the common season for Lankinen, however he’s Three-1-Zero with a 1.99 GAA and .930 save share in 4 video games.  Cal Petersen, Ontario (Los Angeles Kings) Petersen (6-1, 180) endured a making an attempt season in 2018-19, when recollects and accidents despatched Ontario to a last-place end.Although the 25-year-old was 13-19-Three with a Four.02 GAA and .896 save share in 38 video games, he confronted a median of 38.Eight photographs per recreation. He additionally performed 11 video games with the Kings and was 5-Four-1 with a 2.61 GAA and .924 save share.With Jonathan Fast and Jack Campbell once more wholesome in Los Angeles, Petersen has remained within the AHL to proceed his improvement. Ontario has retooled and is off to an Eight-Four-2 begin and two factors out of first place within the Pacific Division. Petersen has continued to be a workhorse; he’s Eight-Four-2 with a 2.46 GAA and .932 save share in 14 begins.Initially chosen by the Buffalo Sabres within the fifth spherical (No. 129) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Petersen as an alternative signed with the Kings on July 1, 2017 after three seasons on the College of Notre Dame. Adam Werner, Colorado (Colorado Avalanche)Werner made 40 saves on 40 photographs in his NHL debut, a Four-Zero win in opposition to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, after relieving injured starter Pavel Francouz 31 seconds into the sport.With Philipp Grubauer on injured reserve, the Avalanche recalled Werner on Nov. 7. He’s 5-Four-Zero with a 2.88 GAA and .908 save share in 9 AHL video games.Chosen by Colorado within the fifth spherical (No. 131) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Werner (6-5, 205) made the transition to North America after one full season with Farjestads BK of the Swedish Hockey League. The 22-year-old was 15-9-Zero with a 2.02 GAA and .926 save share in 26 regular-season video games within the SHL final season. He signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Avalanche on Could 13, 2019.