New York Islanders Daily: Will Mikko Koskinen’s Contract Dictate The Goalie Market

Mikko Koskinen just got a shiny new deal from Edmonton. How will that affect the New York Islanders’ negotiations with Robin Lehner?

The New York Islanders have had their fair share of meetings with Peter Chiarelli. Often times, those meetings ended up with Garth Snow fleecing Chiarelli in a trade but this time his name comes up for other reasons.

Yesterday, Chiarelli gave goalie Mikko Koskinen a contract extension. The deal is a three-year $4.5 million AAV contract. Koskinen is actually a former Islander too oddly enough. He was selected in the second round of the 2009 entry level draft by the Islanders.

He played just four games for the Isles in 2010-2011, with a 4.33 goals against average and a .873 save percentage. He would then go on to play the next nine seasons overseas with multiple teams in Liiga and the KHL.

This year, he is playing with the Edmonton Oilers after signing a one-year $2.5 million contract. In 27 games he has a .911 save percentage and a 2.78 goals against average. He’s been fairly average.

Why this deal is important is because the Isles will be looking to negotiate a contract with Robin Lehner most likely by years end. If Koskinen is worth $4.5 million after 31 NHL games with a 2.97 goals against average and a .905 save percentage what is Lehner worth?

Lehner, sporting a .930 save percentage and a 2.02 goals against average, is on a one-year $1.5 million deal. He’s having a much better year than Koskinen but will that mean he’s going to get that kind of money?

I’d guess and say likely not. I think the Islanders do end up re-signing him to a three-year deal in the vicinity of $3.5 million – $4 million. Keep in mind it is Chiarelli doing the work out there and comparing his decisions with the rest of the NHL’s should be taken with a grain of salt.

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