This offseason, the Toronto Maple Leafs strengthened their goaltending lineup by committing to Joseph Woll as their starting goaltender and signing Anthony Stolarz as a seasoned backup. Meanwhile, a division rival, the Boston Bruins, have faced challenges after trading Linus Ullmark. With expected starter Jeremy Swayman still unsigned, the Bruins’ front office is dealing with a significant issue.
As the season approaches, the Bruins are projected to begin with Joonas Korpisalo as their No. 1 goaltender, but with limited depth, it’s far from ideal for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations. In response, the Bruins have taken action, acquiring former Maple Leafs goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo, a 30-year-old with only two NHL games to his name.
Last season, Kasimir Kaskisuo suited up for the Laval Rocket, the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens—another rival of both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins—where he posted a .909 save percentage and a 2.79 GAA over 13 games. By bringing in Kaskisuo, the Bruins add him to a goalie group that includes Joonas Korpisalo, Michael DiPietro, and Brandon Bussi. Given the current state of the Bruins’ roster, this isn’t exactly the reassurance their fans were hoping for in net.
Kaskisuo’s lone NHL appearance for the Maple Leafs came in the 2019-20 season, although he spent parts of five seasons with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. While it’s always good to see a former Leaf getting another chance, it’s likely that Kaskisuo’s role with the Bruins will be primarily as a depth option as the team works through the unresolved Jeremy Swayman contract situation.