#Marlies News: The @TorontoMarlies have loaned goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo to the Chicago Wolves (AHL).#MarliesLive pic.twitter.com/TgYtuHoE9P
— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) October 23, 2017
We all saw this move coming!
First, to catch up, earlier today eagle-eyed reporter Dhiren mahiban noticed that Kasimir Kaskisuo had been sent back to the AHL.
According to the #ECHL transactions, G Kasimir Kaskisuo has been recalled to the AHL #Marlies from Orlando #Leafs pic.twitter.com/rI2H2vE59l
— Dhiren Mahiban (@dcmahiban) October 23, 2017
That transaction seemed ordinary. He was with Orlando in the first place to fill in for the injured Cal Heeter. Heeter returned from IR and Kaskisuo returned from the E.
Now the Leafs have done a favour for a friend. That friend is essentially George McPhee in Vegas. The Wolves are the AHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights and they have an acute goalie shortage because Vegas traded Calvin Pickard to Toronto, lost Marc-Andre Fleury to injury and then just lost Malcolm Subban as well.
Their remaining options are two very untested AHL goalies. Which leaves their AHL affiliate very empty. Kaskisuo will be their undisputed starter and will get to play a lot of games.
Loans between minor league teams are common. Much less common is a loan of a player on an NHL contract like Kaskisuo. The Leafs had two on the Marlies last year, however, utilizing their ability to pay for the player to offset the need to trade for him and use up assets or a contract spot.
Kaskisuo cannot be called up to the Vegas Golden Knights. Not without a deal with Lou Lamoriello first, at any rate.