Kasimir Kaskisuo

While playing with the Minnesota Wilderness in the North American Hockey League, Kaskisuo committed to play collegiate hockey with the University of Minnesota–Duluth.[1] In his freshman year, Kaskisuo recorded a .923 saves percentage to earn NCHC Rookie of the Week honors.[2] He later went 5-0-0 with a .949 saves percentage to earn the Bauer National Collegiate Hockey Conference Goalie of the Week.[3] By the end of the month, he was named Hockey Commissioners' Association Rookie of the Month for November.[4] At the conclusion of the 2014–15 season, Kaskisuo was named to the All-Rookie Team,[5] and a finalist for Goaltender of the Year.[6] He was also elected the University of Minnesota Duluth's Most Valuable Player for the 2014–15 season.[7]

Prior to his sophomore season, Kaskisuo was named to the Mike Richter Award Watch List for the 2015–16 season.[8] At the conclusion of the season, Kaskisuo was chosen for the American Sports Network Player of the Week after making a career high 49 saves in a game against St. Cloud State University.[9] He was also named a finalist for the Mike Richter Award as the most outstanding in Division I NCAA men's ice hockey.[10]

On 28 March 2016, Kaskisuo signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and began play with its minor league affiliates, the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL), and the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL.[11] On 29 May 2018, the Maple Leafs re-signed Kaskisuo to another two-way contract for two years.[12] During the 2017–18 AHL season, the Maple Leafs loaned Kaskisuo to the AHL's Chicago Wolves.[13]

On 12 November 2019, Kaskisuo was called up by the Toronto Maple Leafs to serve as the backup goaltender for the club.[14] Kaskisuo made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs several days later, on 16 November 2019.[15]

In the summer of 2020 the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted one of the two “bubbles” where the NHL held the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Each team had to choose a third goalie in case of emergency, and the Maple Leafs chose Kaskisuo. Kaskisuo started a YouTube channel during the playoffs to show viewers what life in the “bubble” was like. Kaskisuo's channel now has over 20,000 subscribers.

As a free agent from the Maple Leafs after 5 seasons within the organization, Kaskisuo was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators on October 13, 2020.[16]