Winnipeg Jets: Manitoba Moose Goaltending Situation Gets Cleared Up
During Winnipeg Jets training camp, one of the storylines was what happened to the Jets’ top prospect goaltender, Mikhail Berdin.
The twenty-four-year-old led the line for the Manitoba Moose last season and was in the second year of his two-year contract.
On Wednesday, September 28th, Berdin was not participating in Jets’ camp and Rick Bowness stated that the Russian-born goaltender was dealing with a personal issue and would not comment further on the issue.
Fast forward a week-and-a-half to yesterday and there is finally clarity to Berdin’s situation. According to the Jets’ Official Website:
"The Winnipeg Jets announced today that goaltender Mikhail Berdin, per the advice and recommendation of the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, will not remain with the club for the 2022-23 National Hockey League season.The rights of the club and player will be consistent with the treatment of a suspended player, so he will not be paid by the club and his salary will not count against the salary cap. As part of an agreement between the club, NHL, NHLPA and the player, Berdin will be permitted to sign a one-year contract to play outside of North America for the 2022-23 season"
As stated above, Berdin is allowed to play this season outside of North America. Berdin’s agent stated via Twitter that Berdin will head back to Russia to be closer to his family and play in the KHL.
Mikhail Berdin is leaving the Winnipeg Jets for 2022-2023 season to be closer to his family in Russia. He will play in the KHL at this time. #WeAreGoldStar!
— Dan Milstein-Hockey (@HockeyAgent1) October 6, 2022
With Mikhail Berdin leaving the Winnipeg Jets organization for the upcoming season, the Manitoba Moose’s goaltending situation is solidified
As we look ahead to the 2022-2023 season, the Manitoba Moose are expected to have a goaltending tandem of Arvid Holm and Oskari Salminen.
Holm played his first AHL season last year and posted a 12-10-2 record with a 2.90 goals against average and an 8.77 save percentage with the Moose.
The twenty-three-year-old was drafted by the Jets in the sixth round of the 2017 entry draft and has played his whole career in Sweden before arriving with the Moose last season.
The other goaltender in this tandem is six-foot-five-inch, Salminen. Salminen was undrafted and the Jets signed him this past offseason to an entry-level contract after he had an outstanding season in his native country of Finland with Jukurit. In 55 games last season, Salminen had a 29-14-11 record and a goals against average of 2.07 and a save percentage of .920.
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The Moose are currently in training camp and their regular season begins next Saturday, October 15, as they host Rockford for a two-game series.
Stay tuned to our site in the coming days for a Manitoba Moose season preview!
