Jackets add two years to backup goalie’s deal
The Blue Jackets have signed goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to a two- year contract extension that will likely keep him in place as Sergei Bobrovsky’s backup through the 2018- 19 season.
The deal, which carries a $ 900,000 salary cap hit, will pay Korpisalo $ 700,000 in 2017- 18 and $ 1.1 million in 2018- 19.
Korpisalo, 23, was a third- round pick ( No. 62 overall) of the Blue Jackets in 2012.
He has a 23- 16- 5 record with a 2.68 goals- against average and .915 save percentage over the last two seasons, spending time with Columbus and minorleague Cleveland in each season.
But he is expected to be a full- time Blue Jacket now. The one- way deal guarantees his salary, no matter if he plays in the NHL or American Hockey League.
Also, he would have to clear waivers to be sent to the minors.
The Blue Jackets will have to expose him in the NHL expansion draft in July, so there’s a chance they could lose him to the new franchise in Las Vegas.
The Blue Jackets also signed two minor- league players to contracts. Forward Zac Dalpe, a former Ohio State player, signed a two- year, two- way contract.
He had eight goals and seven assists in 20 games with Cleveland after he was acquired midway through last season.
Defenseman Dean Kukan signed a one- year, twoway contract. In 72 games with Cleveland this season, he had four goals and 25 assists.