The rookie goaltending crop of last season wasn’t quite what you would imagine despite NHL organisations trending to blood their younger talent in the American League.
Instead it was a couple of ‘older’ rookies who led the way but that doesn’t mean there weren’t any interesting stories or intriguing talent to take a look back on.
Shane Starrett Bakersfield Condors/Edmonton Oilers
42 Games Played
Four Shutouts
2.33 Goals Against Average
27-7-5 Record
0.918 Save Percentage
You may know Shane Starrett as “that guy from the air force.”
The 25 year old spent two years in the NCAA with Air Force Academy and was signed to a two-year Entry Level deal by Edmonton Oilers after posting a combined .925 Sv%.
Having turned professional in 2017, Starrett spent the majority of the 17-18 campaign in the ECHL with Wichita Thunder posting a .912 Sv% in 38 games.
From the outside that didn’t appear to be a base to build into an outstanding rookie year as the Massachusetts native finished in top four amongst all goaltenders in shutouts and wins having carried the load for Edmonton’s primary affiliate.
The Oilers penned him to a one year extension in June and would likely wish to see a repeat before propelling him into the NHL and offering a more substantial contract.
Marcus Hogberg Belleville Senators/Ottawa Senators
39 Games Played
Two Shutouts
2.32 Goals Against Average
21-11-6 Record
0.917 Save Percentage
Marcus Hogberg seems to have been around the scene for a long time now so it may come as a surprise that he qualified as an AHL rookie last season.
This is because the Swedish goaltender turned professional in his homeland playing two seasons with Linköping HC (SHL).
Ottawa finally penned their third round selection from the 2013 NHL Entry Draft to an ELC in 2017 and Hogberg split the 2017-18 campaign between the AHL and ECHL without pulling up any trees numbers wise.
Not an unexpected as Brampton Beast and Belleville Senators were not particular good teams during that year.
However in 2018-19 the 24 year old carried the load for Belleville as his outstanding play so nearly ended up with them making the playoffs after a torrid beginning to the campaign. A four game stint in the NHL for Ottawa understandably was not a huge success behind a frankly terrible team but it was a ‘reward’ for a tremendous year in the minors.
There was plenty of interest from European teams in the free agent, but Ottawa managed to secure Hogberg for another two years though his chances of securing an NHL berth look slim for 2019-20 with Mike Condon, Anders Nilsson and Craig Anderson all above him in the pecking order.
Josef Korenar San Jose Barracuda/San Jose Sharks
34 Games Played
Four Shutouts
2.54 Goals Against Average
23-8-2 Record
0.911 Save Percentage
Josef Korenar is yet another of those intriguing free agent signings that have prospered earlier in their career.
San Jose Sharks Assistant General Manager Joe Will was quoted as saying that the organisation strongly considered drafting the 21 year old in 2017 but instead saved themselves a pick by signing him as a free agent after a strong campaign in the USHL.
The Czech native turned professional in his homeland and posted a .920 Sv% in nine outings for HC Dukla Jihlava.
As you might expect his play was a little erratic for such a young rookie in the AHL but despite the peaks and troughs the San Jose prospect finished 16th amongst all goaltenders in save percentage, 12th in wins and matched Starrett’s four shutouts.
If his progress continues on an upwards curve and brings with it more consistency then San Jose might just have unearthed a gem that cost them nothing.
Kaapo Kahkonen Iowa Wild/Minnesota Wild
39 Games Played
Six Shutouts
2.78 Goals Against Average
17-14-8 Record
0.908 Save Percentage
Firstly let’s address the elephant in the room. This guy has one of the best hockey names out there.
However that’s not something to dwell on as the Finnish netminder had a spectacular beginning to his North American career. In his first eleven starts, Kahkonen lost just once in regulation and posted three shutouts.
His form became erratic from December onwards but the 22 year old would still go on to lead all goaltenders with six shutouts while posting a respectable .908 save percentage despite haemorrhaging goals at times during the second half of the year.
Kahkonen was drafted 109th by Minnesota back in 2014 but turned professional in his native land and in three Liiga campaigns posted a combined .917 Sv%.
Minnesota’s goaltending is lacking in depth (Alex Stalock is the projected back-up for 2019-20) so there is a real opportunity for Kahkonen to lay down a marker next season.
Mikhail Berdin Manitoba Moose/Winnipeg Jets
23 Games Played
Two Shutouts
2.34 Goals Against Average
12-8-3 Record
0.927 Save Percentage
Mikhail Berdin featured in just twenty-three games but I felt he was worthy of a mention to round out this article.
The 21 year old was drafted 157th overall by Winnipeg in 2016 and only turned professional last year.
It was a successful campaign split between the ECHL (Jacksonville IceMen) where he posted a .912 Sv% and proceeded to put up even better numbers when promoted to the AHL.
Formerly a product of the Salavat Yulaev Ufa youth system, the Russian goaltender has an excellent chance of establishing himself with Manitoba next season, with the back-up position a certainty at this juncture.
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