Veteran Jets goalie unexpectedly walks away from NHL

At 31-years of age, Chris Driedger has been in the NHL for over a decade at this point, seeing game time in the league with Ottawa, Florida and Seattle, before spending the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose.

The veteran has never solidified himself as a legit No. 1 in the NHL however, despite putting together a 2.45 GAA and a .917 save percentage in 67 games played in the league over the last decade.

Now, with no game time since 2023/24 in Seattle, Driedger has made a shock career decision, as he’s reportedly set to ink a deal with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL, departing the NHL to find a bigger role for himself in Europe in the coming years.

It has not been officially confirmed as of yet, but with very few opportunities available for him in the NHL, this may be the best way for Driedger to finally get the chance to play as a No. 1, as his numbers will make him arguably one of the best goaltenders in the entire KHL.

Driedger was originally a third-round pick back in the 2012 NHL Draft, and while he’s shown flashes, it’s safe to say that he simply hasn’t developed as well as hoped, and may never get the chance for significant game time in the NHL.

At 31, he’s got time on his side however, as he could reinvent himself over a few years in the KHL, and if he can play consistently at a very high level, there’s always a chance that this isn’t the last we’ve seen of him in North America.