With the news that Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas is answering phone calls about starting goalie Frederik Andersen’s availability, I thought it might be a good time to take a look at what goalies the Maple Leafs have rising up through the ranks.
In this post, I’m going to review three of the organization’s goalie prospects – Kasimir Kaskisuo, Joseph Woll, and Ian Scott. None of the three had what you would call an outstanding season. Kaskisuo got his NHL debut after a number of seasons in the organization and it didn’t go well. Neither Woll nor Scott had a good season either. Woll struggled and Scott struggled to play – he missed the entire season with an injury.
A Look at Kasimir Kaskisuo’s Season
Kasimir Kaskisuo, the 26-year-old Finnish goaltender, has been in the Maple Leafs organization for five seasons. In 2019, he finally was called up and made his NHL debut on November 16, 2019, in one of former head coach Mike Babcock’s final games with the team. Kaskisuo got thrown to the wolves – or the Penguins, which probably seemed more vicious than wolves at the time.
It was a brutal loss, and the Pittsburgh Penguins hammered six goals past him. In truth, the team did him no favors. By the time Kaskisuo got into the net for his NHL debut, they had quit on Babcock. Kaskisuo deserved better.
That game was the only chance Kaskisuo got before he was moved back to the AHL Toronto Marlies. Sadly, given that the game was at the team’s nadir and the end of the Babcock reign, it’s tough to judge Kaskisuo based on that one start. The game was also the second game of a back-to-back on the road. Only a superstar might have won a game played in those circumstances.
Back in the AHL, Kaskisuo had a decent season. In 27 games played, he had a 14-9-2 record with a goals-against-average of 2.79 and a save percentage of 0.909. Right now, it’s hard to judge Kaskisuo’s status is with the team. It might be my imagination, but he seems to be ignored by the organization.
A Look at Joseph Woll’s Season
The 22-year-old Joseph Woll was a third-round (62nd overall) pick during the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He was a star at Boston College, but during his first pro season he struggled. In 32 up-and-down games with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, he had an 11-16-3 record, a goals-against average of 3.75, and a .880 save percentage.
As Woll suggests, it was difficult to transition into the AHL: “For the first time in my life, I had a lot of ups and downs that I had to deal with, but things like that make you better in the long run.”
Like other young goalies, Woll’s mental game needs work. Woll spoke about the need to have a “quick turnaround mindset” as a way to help him move past a poor start or a loss. Woll plan is to improve his preparation to help him handle mental grind of being a professional goalie.
The youngster has the physical tools, but needs to improve the mental tools. Still, there’s little doubt he has the potential to be one the Maple Leafs’ goalie of the future even if, right now, he’s a work in progress.
A Look at Ian Scott’s Season
The Maple Leafs picked Ian Scott in the fourth round (110th overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He proceeded to have a stunningly good 2018-19 junior season. However, during 2019 the Marlies reported that Scott had successful hip surgery to correct hip “impingement.” Although it’s anticipated Scott will be ready for the 2020 training camp later this calendar year, he missed the entire season.
Although Scott didn’t see game action during the 2019-20 season because of an injury, during the 2018-19 season, he posted a record of 38-8-1-2 with eight shutouts, a goals-against average 1.83, and a .932 save percentage playing with the Prince Albert Raiders in the WHL. For his good work, he was awarded the CHL Goaltender of the Year, the Del Wilson Trophy to the WHL’s top goalie, and was a member of the WHL Eastern First-Team All-Star.
Scott’s 2018-19 postseason was stellar. He had a 16-6-1-0 record (with five shutouts), a goals-against average of 1.96, and a save percentage of .925. He led his Raiders to the 2019 WHL Championship and was named MVP of the WHL Playoffs.
In July 2019, prior to Scott’s injury and surgery, Maple Leafs senior director of player development Scott Pellerin spoke about Scott’s progress: “If you look at his progression from when he was with the Marlies during the Calder Cup run and then to take that experience and have the season he just had, it’s unbelievable.”
So What’s the Skinny?
Given the difficult seasons the three goalie prospects had during 2019-20, heading into the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Maple Leafs fans have to wonder if will general manager Kyle Dubas might draft a goalie or simply pick the best prospect on their list regardless of position?
We’ll know soon. The Draft is only two weeks away.
The post Maple Leafs Goalie Prospects: Kaskisuo, Woll & Scott’s Seasons appeared first on NHL Trade Talk - Hockey Trades and Rumors.
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