The Toronto Maple Leafs have another player.
Goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo has signed a two-year, two way contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kaskisuo was not drafted and is 24 years old.
The contract has an NHL average annual value of $675,000.
Kaskisuo was signed by the Leafs in the spring of 2016 as an NCAA free agent. The contract was another two-year, two-way contract. Since then he has played for the ECHL’s Solar Bears, AHL’s Chicago Wolves and Toronto Marlies.
Kaskisuo played most of the 2017/18 season split between the AHL’s Wolves and Marlies. In 38 career AHL games, he is 20-14-3 with a 2.25 GAA and a .918 save percentage. Stats that could use some improvement but aren’t too shabby.
With the arrival of Calvin Pickard, the surplus in goalies in Toronto needed to be solved and luckily so did the shortage in Chicago. Kaskisuo was loaned to the Wolves performing well with a .914 SV% in 28 games. Come playoff time he did not get any minutes with all of Chicago’s goalies returning healthy.
Kaskisuo has also appeared in 10 career Calder Cup playoff games with the Marlies in 2017. Going 5-3 with a 2.66 GAA and a .892 SV%.
Until Garret Sparks or Calvin Pickard are moved or called up, it looks like the Marlies will have an abundance of goalies. With Curtis McElhinney likely out after this season, if not before, Garret Sparks will probably get a call up.
Kasimir Kaskisuo is probably never going to be a starter for the Toronto Maple Leafs, most likely not even their backup. Then again, you never know.
#Leafs announce they've resigned pending RFA goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo to a Ext. Kaskisuo's will expire as a G6 UFA unless he plays in 28 gms during his deal.
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) May 29, 2018
2 year / 2-way contract
$675,000 AAV
2018-19: $650,000 / $100,000
2019-20: $700,000 / $100,000https://t.co/godyYmelok https://t.co/XSlWBtYoR7
Kaskisuo is is a good player to have in the organization to possibly start for the Marlies eventually. Every good organization has depth at all positions and this move represents the Leafs maintaining the organizational depth that they are becoming known for under the Shanahan/Lamoriello/Dubas regime. Being 24 he is approaching his best years, but still has lots of room to grow and is a good asset for this young Leafs team.
In a dream scenario, he improves massively and ends up in the NHL or forces the Leafs to trade him for another asset. Most likely , however, he is a solid depth piece in an organization that is becoming well known for having a solid collection of goalies. Hopefully one day he makes the NHL.
Along with Kaskisuo, the Toronto Maple Leafs also have Frederick Andersen, Curtis MacElhinney, Garret Sparks, Calvin Pickard along with prospects Joseph Woll and Ian Scott.
stats from ahl.com, capfriendly.com