Kivleniek has a new two-year contract with the NHL team “Blue Jackets”
Columbus, Oct. 9, LETA. Latvian goalkeeper Matīss Kivlenieks has signed a new two-year two-way agreement with the National Hockey League (NHL) team Columbus “Blue Jackets”, the unit informs.
The Blue Jackets team made a qualifying offer for Kivleniek for the new contract this week, but now the club and the 24-year-old goalkeeper have agreed to continue the cooperation for another two years.
Kivlenieks made his NHL debut this season. He scored an average of 2.95 puck in six draws and neutralized 89.8% of the throw. He spent most of the season at the Blue Jackets Farm Club in the American Hockey League (AHL), playing an average of 2.96 puck in his goal in the Cleveland Monsters in 20 matches and repelling 90.4 percent.
He made his AHL debut in the 2017/2018 season and went to North America’s second-strongest league in 77 matches, averaging 3.23 discs, repelling 89.2% of the throws and standing “dry” three times.
Kivlenieks came under the wing of “Blue Jackets” in May 2017, when they signed a three-year starter contract with the NHL team. Prior to that, in his only season at the United States Hockey League (USHL) Junior Championships, Kivlenieks was named the tournament’s most valuable hockey player and best goalkeeper.
In the third round of the 2014 NHL draft, the Columbus team with the 76th number selected Elvi Merzlikina, who made a bright debut in the strongest league on the planet this season. Merzlikkin signed a two-year contract with the Blue Jackets last year, but rumors have emerged after the season that he or Columbus team’s second goalkeeper Jonas Korpisalo could be replaced.
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