*Photo from Oil on Whyte*
As the offseason begins for the Edmonton Oilers, they've lost a key piece. Goaltender Mikko Koskinen has signed a two year contract with HC Lugano in Switzerland, according to an announcement by HC Lugano on Monday, which confirms the deal.
After playing in the KHL in Russia, Koskinen returned to the NHL to play for the Oilers, and now, as a pending UFA, the Finnish goalie is going back overseas, this time to play in Switzerland. As a soon to be 34 year old, this likely concludes Koskinen's NHL career.
Last season with the Oilers, ultimately his final in Edmonton, Koskinen finished the season with a 27-12-4 record, with a 3.10 GAA and .903 save percentage, getting 43 starts and two relief appearances. Koskinen made a few relief appearances in the playoffs, but was the backup goalie to Mike Smith for the duration of the postseason run, which ended in the Western Conference Finals.
Outside of a short 4 game stint in 2010-2011 with the New York Islanders, all of Koskinen's NHL experience is with the Oilers. Koskinen has a 85-60-13 record, with a 3.01 GAA and .906 save percentage, with 156 starts in the NHL to his name.
A former first round pick by the Islanders, Koskinen played in Finland and the KHL in between NHL stints, and is now off to Switzerland. The likeliest replacement for Koskinen in Edmonton is Stuart Skinner, who spent most of last season in the AHL, unless they sign another goalie this summer.
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