Blackhawks: Signing Keith Kinkaid

It’s safe to assume the Blackhawks will have one new goalie, if not an entirely new tandem when the season starts up. Lankinen and Delia are both solid, but I think it might be time to move on from both. A solid, cheap option in between the pipes is Keith Kinkaid, who spent last season with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers minor team, with one game in the NHL. 

Kinkaid has spent time with the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils and now the New York Rangers. The 6’3, 194 pound goaltender spent time in the USHL with the Des Moines Buccaneers, the NCAA with Union College, and played a season in the NAHL with the St. Louis Bandits during his career before joining the Devils organization in 2011-12, where he played 42 games for Albany in the AHL. 

With the Wolf Pack, Kinkaid played 37 games and posted a .904 sv% with a 2.94 GAA. His one game in the NHL this season was a win, and he posted a .935sv% with a 2.00 GAA. Kinkaid, who is 32, has 167 games of NHL experience under his belt. He won’t cost a lot of money, and might even accept another two way contract for the 2022-23 season. If the Blackhawks can pick him up, he could turn out to be a steal of the century. 

Kinkaid has the skill to play in the NHL still, so taking a risk on him wouldn’t hurt the Blackhawks. Another example of a player who would be on a “low risk, high reward deal” and a guy that’s always loved by his teammates. A 1-2 year, 2 way deal would be ideal for Kinkaid, as if he doesn’t pan out and cracks under the pressure in the NHL, he is a very trustworthy 3rd string goaltender.