Kaskimaki’s second AHL season with Springfield showed real growth. After posting 11 goals and 34 points as a rookie, he stepped up to roughly 20 goals and 44 points while earning five-game NHL call-up in December. The NHL stint was brief and pointless (zero points, minus-six), but the fact that St. Louis trusted him during an injury-depleted stretch says something about how the organization views his two-way reliability. At 6-0, 195 pounds, he skates well, plays both center and wing, and generates chances through transition speed and shot volume (over 140 shots on goal in the AHL). The shot is his best offensive tool, and he uses defenders as screens effectively. His late-season surge (five goals and seven assists over his last nine AHL games) showed what he can do with confidence. The Blues’ prospect pool is competitive, with Jimmy Snuggerud, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Logan Mailloux all ahead of him, so Kaskimaki profiles as a bottom-six candidate rather than a top-nine lock. Fantasy managers in deep dynasty leagues should hold. A 25-to-35 point NHL ceiling as a checking-line center with some power play utility is a reasonable projection.

Kaskimaki made his way to North America for the 2024-2025 season, and skated with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL. In 62 games, the 21 year old saw 11 goals and 22 assists, with 10 points coming with the man advantage, and even one while short handed. That the rookie Finn saw time on both special teams, and featured on the power play, is a good sign for the confidence he earned from the coaching staff. He will be a year or two away from earning an extended look at the NHL level, but as the Blues’ veterans age, and he builds on his budding game in the North American circuit, look for him to earn a shot at a middle-six role if his development goes according to plan.

He played 12 games in April and May, earning just two assists, so the extended length of the AHL season will be something he will come into the season with more acclimation to. Kaskimaki is worth a stash if unowned in your dynasty leagues.

Even though he is considered a center, Kaskimaki spent the majority of the 2024 World Junior Championship playing on the left wing of the second line. It was not catastrophic, but it was still an underwhelming tournament for him. He finished with only four points in seven games, falling short of the expectations for a 19-year-old in this competition. All signs indicate that Kaskimaki will return to the Liiga to continue his development in his home country.

After a disappointing last season, Kaskimaki has already made significant progress this year with HIFK. In just 12 games, he not only matched his goal total from the previous year (three), but also increased his shots per game from 1.6 to 2.3. This improvement has already had an impact on his ice time, as he is playing an additional three minutes per game. Although it is still too early to jump to conclusions, it’s undoubtedly a major step taken by the young center.