A Finnish Presence in Wheeling
The Wheeling Nailers have secured the services of Finnish goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo for the upcoming 2026‑27 campaign, adding a seasoned netminder whose career spans North America and Europe.
Kaskisuo, now entering his twelfth year as a professional, has logged time with two NHL clubs, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Nashville Predators, each appearance limited to a handful of games but enough to showcase his ability to compete at the highest level.
His most pronounced success has come in the American Hockey League, where he compiled a 53‑36‑13 record with a 2.68 goals‑against average and eight shutouts across 108 appearances for the Toronto Marlies, Chicago Wolves and Laval Rocket.
The Finnish netminder was the backbone of two Calder Cup playoff runs with the Marlies, posting eight straight victories in the 2019 postseason and earning a spot in the AHL All‑Star Classic the following season.
Internationally, Kaskisuo has spent three seasons abroad, including two stints in the Swedish Hockey League with Leksands IF and a campaign in Finland’s Mestis with Joensuun Kiekko‑Pojat, where he posted a 23‑win season in 2021‑22 with a 2.64 goals‑against average and a .910 save percentage.
Before turning professional, he honed his craft at the University of Minnesota‑Duluth, posting a 37‑29‑8 record with a 2.10 goals‑against average and six shutouts in 75 games, a foundation that has helped shape his resilient style between the pipes.