Wild goalie Kaapo Kahkonen won't be forgotten man

ST. LOUIS – Kaapo Kahkonen has starred in fewer Wild games as the schedule's progressed, settling into the backup role behind starter Cam Talbot.

But how Kahkonen's played this year is one of the reasons why the Wild extended its season, a performance that'll link the rookie goalie to the playoffs even if he doesn't participate.

"We as a team appreciate what he's done and how he's contributed and how he competes not only in games but in practices," coach Dean Evason said. "Just his professionalism, he's fit in wonderfully with the group. When you have depth, and you have people contributing in so many different ways and everybody feels a part of it, that's very exciting."

Kahkonen could be in net Thursday when the Wild wraps up the regular season against the Blues if the team decides to split the back-to-back and rest Talbot ahead of Round 1.

Regardless, what Kahkonen's accomplished in his first full-time stint with the Wild after limited action last season is already intertwined with the team's overall success.

His 16 wins are the most by a Wild rookie goaltender in a season, and the 24-year-old is tied for the fifth longest win streak by a rookie netminder in NHL history after going 9-0 from Feb. 18. to March 16.

In all, Kahkonen has backstopped the Wild to 32 points — a sizable enough chunk that if those points were subtracted the Wild wouldn't be in a playoff position.

Overall, he's 16-7 with a .908 save percentage, 2.70 goals-against average and two shutouts — this after Kahkonen was initially third on the Wild depth chart until Alex Stalock became unavailable, starting the season on the COVID list and then getting claimed off waivers by Edmonton in March.

"I felt pretty confident last year, too, but I think it's just more getting to know your teammates better, getting to know everything better," said Kahkonen, who was drafted by the Wild in the fourth round in 2014. "Now you've been here for a whole year you kind of feel like you belong here rather than you're just called up on an emergency basis or what have you."

Although it's unclear how much he'll be utilized in the playoffs if at all, Kahkonen will use the same process he depended on in the regular season to stay ready — combining video with on-ice work.

And even if he is idle, Kahkonen's already made a lasting impression on the team.

"Maybe Kaapo doesn't play another game all season," defenseman Ian Cole said. "I don't think that diminishes what Kaapo has done or the future he's going to have or how good of a goaltender he is. A lot of times young goalies play three, four, five, six years in the minors before they're ready to come and he showed how ahead of the curve he is as a goaltender and how much he can be relied on.

"He's got the right mentality. He's got the right frame of mind and obviously extremely talented. We are very fortunate to have him. He's going to have a long career in this league."

Earlier this season, Nick Bonino told the coaches that he was prepared to play in any situation the team put him in, and that versatility has become the veteran's calling card in his first season with the Wild.

Aside from playing at wing and center, Bonino helps on the penalty kill and power play and is the team's best faceoff specialist.

"When somebody like that, that's been in the game and had the success that he has, says something like that to a coaching staff, it's exciting for us because he said I'm going to do whatever it takes for the team to have success," Evason said.

Zach Parise remained a healthy scratch Wednesday for a third straight game, and it's possible the Wild's all-time leading scorer in the postseason is also absent for Game 1 if the lineup the Wild used against the Blues is the same one the team debuts in the playoffs.

"We're going into the playoffs. We're going to use bodies," Evason said. "People are going to get banged up. We expect everybody that's not playing to be ready to play if called upon."