The NHL saw two extensions signed on Monday — one by Teuvo Teravainen and another by Mikko Koskinen. Teravainen extending his current deal was far less a surprise than Koskinen. Admittedly, both teams sewed up positions they felt were important to secure.
Let’s dig a little deeper.
Teuvo Teravainen inks five-year, $27 million extension
Fortunately, Carolina gains leverage into a couple years of free agency as Teravainen will be 25 next season. Details of the contract were not confirmed at this time except for the term and dollar amount. What is unknown remains any modified trade or movement clauses or bonuses.
His breakout season last year featured 64 points and 23 goals in 82 games. This season, the winger is on pace for 67 points and 18 goals. His expected goal total lies above 20 but the bottom line is Teravainen is locked up and soon Sebastian Aho will be as well.
The forward nears that 10% 5-on-5 shooting percentage at even strength which is basically elite. Defensively, Teuvo Teravainen made strides this year too. Furthermore, the winger shows an ability to continuously improve. Maturity has come to him and Carolina is the beneficiary. $5.4 million a year for a top-line forward is cheap and will produce a nice, long-term value.
Possession wise Carolina is so off the charts that Teravainen is a fraction of a percent above average this season. Poetically, Nino Niederreiter‘s current deal paved in some way this extension for Teuvo Teravainen. Niederreiter makes $150,000 less than the winger will make in his new extension. Here is a little more from Don Waddell on the signing.
Teuvo has improved every year of his NHL career and has established himself as a cornerstone forward for the Hurricanes now and into the future. He has shown that he is capable of adapting and expanding his role with our team, becoming a key penalty killer for Rod this season. He’s still just 24 years old and we believe he will only continue to grow as a player.
Again, the idea is Carolina wants to build out their core and this deal helps them do so. Now, the Hurricanes are free to concentrate on locking up Aho and other players as they see fit.
Mikko Koskinen signs a three-year, $13.5 million extension with Edmonton Oilers
Koskinen figured to be part of Edmonton’s longer-term plans but few expected this kind of extension. The goalie gets rewarded to be the “1A” for the Oilers while Cam Talbot likely will be moved. Details listed for the extension are as follows:
Mikko Koskinen extension with #oilers:
2019-2020: $5.2M
2020-2021: $3.3M+$500,000 SB
2021-2022: $4.5M
Koskinen parlayed a nice start into a deal for a 30-year-old goalie that he could not have dreamed about. After nearly eight seasons away from the NHL, the goalie came back with an outstanding 10-3-1 start. Since then, Koskinen struggled in his last ten decisions with a 3-7 record in that span. Overall, he carries a respectable 2.78 GAA, .911 save percentage, and 14 wins in 24 starts.
The problem with some media, pundits, and fans alike is the understandable concerns with this extension. The Point touched on this in a few ways. He ranks 30th out of 46 qualified goaltenders and is paid 17th among them. That deal matches poorly with the dollar amount on the surface. However, Edmonton feels that Koskinen’s poise and presence will allow him to improve with the security of a new deal.
He has saved one goal above average for every 6.5 games. One legitimate concern is his penalty kill save percentage which stands at just .852. The average comes in right around .870. Predictably, Edmonton kills off penalties at one of the worst rates in the league (26th — 76.8%). Part of that falls on the goalie. It is an area Koskinen strives to improve on. However, will Edmonton allow him to do that? That is a valid question.
Also, Mikko Koskinen could benefit from the return of Oscar Klefbom. That expects to happen sometime next week. Edmonton fell apart without him in the lineup and the partial reason for Koskinen’s 4.00+ goals against average over the previous ten starts. Can Klefbom be the catalyst to help turn the defense around enough to help the goaltender?
The real problem with Edmonton is the person signing the contracts and the ownership. However, there exists pieces that have the potential to help this franchise moving forward. IS Koskinen one of them? Time will honestly tell.