Kaskisuo might be three years from a starting position for the Leafs, but he's got the mental toughness and athleticism to get there.
Kaskimir Kaskisuo’s pads were still the brown and gold of University of Minnesota-Duluth when he made his professional debut on April 1. The first team he faced as a Toronto Marlie was the Syracuse Crunch, with Latvian Kristers Gudlevskis across the ice; and the first goal scored on him was by Tampa Bay’s prodigal son, Jonathan Drouin. It was a testimony to Kaskisuo’s determination to play pro that his transition from college to AHL looked competent, and the game ended 4-3 for the boys in blue.