The contract
Joonas Korpisalo signs a five-year deal with the Senators, valued at $4 million a year.
Shayna Goldman: Finding a starting goalie was rightly a priority for the Senators. Anton Forsberg is a 1B option at best. Mads Sogaard has potential but he’s not a clear starter at the moment and that doesn’t help a team that’s on the verge of turning. So it makes sense that management had to look elsewhere in the meantime. The problem is that literally every single goalie contract comes with some degree of risk, so it’s all about finding the balance between risk and reward. The Senators’ latest signing seems a bit too much of a risk, with a five-year deal capping Korpisalo at $4 million.
Ottawa bets on Korpisalo 2022-23 and only on Korpisalo 2022-23. The keeper has had a year of prospering behind two very different defensive teams – first behind absolute chaos at Columbus, where he managed an above-expected 10.2 goals in 28 games before founding a much more structured Kings team ( where he posted a GSAx of 6.54) scored in 11 games). While this is a really stellar year to bet on, this isn’t an up-and-coming goalie. This is someone who has been playing in the league for years and has had major problems at times. Maybe this was his moment and a positive sign for the future, but because of the term, it’s a gamble.
Korpisalo doesn’t have the track record that would justify a five-year deal of this magnitude, even factoring in the forthcoming cap increase. Maybe the fact that Forsberg and eventually Sogaard are there gives management the idea that it’s the risk to be taken, but at the moment it’s just a little too delicate – especially when you consider the team, behind which he could play. Yes, Korpisalo thrived despite all the defensive failures in Columbus, but what about the years before that? Ottawa leaves behind a lot of shots and chances, so this isn’t a team that can get away with average goalkeeping if that doesn’t change.
Contract note: C
Fit grade: B
Eric Duhatschek: Barring the final three games of the playoffs, Joonas Korpisalo appeared to be the long-term solution for the Los Angeles Kings. Loaned from Columbus for this playoff push, he excelled in the regular season alternating with Pheonix Copley – 7-3-1, with a .921 GAA and a 2.13 save percentage. However, after wobbling in the playoffs, they questioned whether they wanted to keep Korpisalo long-term – and that was what Korpisalo was looking for. So LA will likely settle for a short-term, low-priced goalie, while Ottawa was willing to give him a five-year tenure for $20 million. At an AAV of $4 million per season, it’s good value. Korpisalo becomes No. 1. Anton Forsberg underwent cruciate ligament surgery that ended his season last year. Likely to be used alongside Forsberg, future goalie Mads Sogaard will get a full year of development at AHL Belleville. The fact that the other option in goal in Ottawa, Freddie Andersen, re-signed with Carolina essentially kept Korpisalo at the top of their wish list. Korpisalo wasn’t necessarily the best option among the UFA goalkeepers available, but he wasn’t the worst either.
Contract note: C
Fit grade: C
(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)