In addition to signing Alex Belzile, the Montreal Canadiens have reached a deal with goaltender Kaapo Kähkönen on a one-year contract extension.
Les Canadiens s'entendent sur les termes de contrats d’une saison avec l’attaquant Alex Belzile et le gardien Kaapo Kahkonen.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 1, 2026
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on one-year contracts with forward Alex Belzile and goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/9lU0xP8Tza
Like Belzile, Kähkönen had played the 2025-26 season with the Laval Rocket and became a free agent on July 1. He must have liked the situation in Laval as well, choosing to re-sign for another year. Kähkönen’s deal is a one-way contract, paying him his NHL salary even in the minors, a decision made to deter a waiver claim when the team moves to assign him to the AHL.
Kähkönen made it to the Calder Cup Final with the Charlotte Checkers in 2024-25, though didn’t show that form with the Laval Rocket last year, ending the regular season with an .895 save percentage, which dropped to .871 in the playoff round versus the Toronto Marlies. He has posted several seasons well above a .900 save percentage, including at the NHL level earlier in his career. Rocket general manager John Sedgwick will be banking on him rediscovering that form in what is expected to be the number-one role with Jacob Fowler likely staying in Montreal.
