Sometimes you done goofed.
I went down to Toronto Marlies practice last week. With each passing day as the Calder Cup playoffs approach, more and more media are flooding Ricoh Coliseum to speak to the Leafs’ first place farm team. In recent weeks, I was able to talk to Marlies GM Kyle Dubas and Marlies head coach Sheldon Keefe about Zach Hyman, I spoke to defender Justin Holl who is performing well on an AHL-only deal, and I got interviews with prospects Tobias Lindberg, Colin Smith, and Connor Brown. Each feature is something I’m proud of.
I was deciding who I should speak to next when it dawned on me: Kasimir Kaskisuo.
He was the perfect candidate. He was just signed by the Maple Leafs, he just arrived in Toronto, and I hadn’t read anything by anybody about him. I could pretty much be the first person in the entire city to talk about him.
He granted an interview and he was fantastic. He spoke about playing in college, how badly the Leafs wanted to get him, and how he grew up cheering for Finnish hockey squad Jokerit and admiring Kari Lehtonen. Coach Keefe even had a great quote about which goalie he’ll use during the playoffs, saying, “I’ll know beforehand. You guys might know in the national anthem when that starts in Game 1.” I couldn’t have asked for more. After several hours of transcribing quotes and writing, I was almost finished my article…
…when I stumbled on this…
“Oh… Oh no… He even talked about… Oh and then he… He even talks about Jokerit?!?”
The incomparable Chris Johnston of Sportsnet had already spoken to Kaskisuo the week before I did and almost everything I had planned on writing about was already in Chris’ piece except better.
I messed up. I messed up hard. Lesson learned: Always read @reporterchris.
Sportsnet.ca senior producer/therapist Mike Cormack consoled me on the phone and convinced me that my interview with Kaskisuo was still somewhat salvageable. Chris spoke to him before he played an AHL game whereas I had to opportunity to speak to him after.
Luckily, Chris decided to join my podcast for a Leafs season-in-review of sorts, he dropped some great knowledge, and I told him about my Kaskisuo article debacle. You should check it out. They don’t call him Reporter Chris for nothing.
Kaskisuo on the city of Toronto
“It’s great. We’re staying right downtown. You can walk almost anywhere. It’s a lot going on; a lot more than in Duluth. In free time you don’t get bored at all. You can just go outside, walk around, see little shops, and walk to the mall or whatever. Go out, eat at a different place every night, and get to just experience the whole city. It’s a little cold outside still but it doesn’t matter. It’s a great, beautiful city and I really like it here.”
On the Marlies playing in the same city as the Leafs being attractive
“Of course it helps out a lot. Right now there’s a couple goalie coaches always in town and the whole management is not too far and you feel like you’re watched all the time. When you do end up getting the call, it’s right there. I feel like they put a better eye on us when we’re right here so it’s not like we’re forgotten about. It’s just a great setup, the facilities are top notch, and of course a great hockey city like this, it’s unbelievable to play for the Marlies in Toronto.”
On whether or not he has had the chance to work in-depth with the Marlies’ coaches
“A lot of work has been put in with Piero (Greco) the goalie coach but I’m kind of still getting used to everybody and all my teammates. Not too much, I haven’t talked too much with the coaches yet. I mean just the little things. They’ve been busy and I’ve been busy. Little by little it’s starting a relationship and everybody seems great so far.”
On what he has noticed about the American Hockey League so far
“Of course it’s a big step up from college. It takes a little bit on an adjustment but I feel like I’m already making big strides for it. The speed is a little faster, the guys shoot way better and make little plays around the net that are really good scoring chances. Just getting used to that and a little bit of adjusting to the little things I pick up here and there, but I feel way better than I did a week ago in practice.”
Growing up liking
“I really didn’t have an NHL team to cheer on. And of course the last couple years when I thought of signing an NHL deal, it’s gotten more of a reality then just kind of keeping my options open, try to be as neutral as I possibly can. Growing up it was a Finnish team – Jokerit from Helsinki – and I played for their organization so that was always a big team for me in front of all the NHL teams.”
On Jokerit having the best logo ever
“They for sure do, at least the logo is the best I’ve ever seen – right after the Maple Leafs’ logo, of course. I think I might have one laying around somewhere, but that’s always special to see. It brings memories back, good memories, and it feels like home seeing that Jokerit jersey.”
Jokerit forward Jere Sallinen. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
On who he thinks he plays like?
“I think I’ve been compared a little bit to Kari Lehtonen and he’s always been my role model too and idol, grew up watching him. I feel like we have some similarities in our game. I try to model my game a little bit from Carey Price. I feel like he’s technically just perfect. So somewhere between Lehtonen and Price I feel like there’d be an optimal fit for me.
