That time finally came.
Joonas Korpisalo was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday. Also going with him to L.A. was defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. Jonathan Quick, a 2023 conditional first-round pick, and a 2024 third-round draft pick is coming back the other way to Columbus.
Further on the trade conditions:
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 1, 2023
If the #LAKings make the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, Columbus acquires their 2023 first-round pick. In the event LA misses this year, #CBJ gets two second-rounders (2023, 2024) from the Kings.
As we take a look back at Korpisalo's career, the 28-year-old goaltender from Pori, Finland has been in the NHL for parts of eight seasons, making him the longest-tenured Blue Jackets goalie in franchise history going back to his debut with the team in 2015-16.
Drafted 62nd overall in the third round of the 2012 draft, Korpisalo compiled a record of 87-78-24 in 190 career starts and 210 career games in Columbus. He has a career 3.06 goals against average, a .903 save percentage, and three career shutouts. Korpisalo was part of the then-Lake Erie-turned-Cleveland Monsters 2015-16 Calder Cup Championship team.
In nine career postseason starts for the Blue Jackets, all in the 2019-20 playoff bubble in Toronto, he was 3-5-0, 1.90, .941, in 599:00 minutes with two shutouts.
And when you think about Korpisalo in the playoffs, one can't forget the epic five-overtime, NHL record, 85-save performance in which the Blue Jackets ultimately dropped Game 1 of their first-round series to the Tampa Bay Lightning, 3-2. Yet all anyone takes away from that game is Korpisalo's historic goaltending performance.
With 85 saves last night, Joonas Korpisalo now holds the record for most stops in an NHL postseason game, surpassing Kelly Hrudey's 73-save performance in 1987.#CBJ | @rodiziogrill pic.twitter.com/22eol3RIEe
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 12, 2020
His two playoff shutouts came against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 1 of the first-round series, a 2-0 win, and the Game 5 clincher, a 3-0 victory.
Among all goalies in Blue Jackets franchise history, Korpisalo ranks fourth in games played, third in games started, third in wins, and fourth with 11,556 minutes. He even contributed on the offensive end with a pair of assists.
Korpisalo made his only All-Star Game in 2019-20 but didn't play due to injury. The 2022-23 campaign has been a redeeming season for the UFA netminder, who last year, dealt with struggles before hip surgery prematurely ended his season last March.
This year, he's compiled a record of 11-11-3, 3.17 GAA, and .913 SV%.
Korpisalo made a career, regular season high, 45 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss at the Calgary Flames on Jan. 23, also Johnny Gaudreau and Erik Gudbranson's return to Calgary.
Kekalainen: "...They are wonderful individuals, and we will always appreciate the contributions they made while they were here." #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 1, 2023
It's been a heckuva ride for Korpisalo and the Blue Jackets. So long, Korpi.
