Kasimir Kaskisuo has decided to forgo his final two seasons of collegiate eligibility as today the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League announced they signed the 6-3, 190-pound University of Minnesota Duluth sophomore goaltender to a two-year entry-level contract.

This past winter, Kaskisuo set a school single-season record for goals against average (1.92) and posted a .923 saves percentage while going 19-15-5 in 39 starts. He also reigned as the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's goals against average leader (league games only) with a 1.69 mark and turned in the second best league saves percentage mark (.932) while seeing more minutes of league crease time (1,384:42) of any puckstopper. In addition, the 2015-16 All-NCHC honorable mention pick also registered five shutouts, equaling the club single-season record held by both Alex Stalock (2008-09) and Brant Nicklin (1997-98). He strung together three of those whitewashes in back-to-back-to-back games between Nov. 20-Dec. 3 -- a UMD program first.

As a freshman, the Vantaa, Finland, product secured a spot on the NCHC All-Rookie team after going 18-14-3 with a 2.30 goals against average and a .917 saves percentage. He shared the NCAA rookie lead for starts and appearances (both 36) and went on to become just the third NCAA I-era (1961-present) newcomer to be voted UMD's Most Valuable Player.

A starter in 51 of UMD's last 52 outings, Kaskisuo backstopped the Bulldogs to a pair of NCAA Northeast Regional championship game appearances and a berth in the 2016 NCHC Frozen Faceoff. He exits the Bulldog program as its all-time leader in goals against average (2.10) and saves percentage (.920) while ranking 11th in lifetime wins (he was 39-27-8 in 75 outings).

Kaskisuo, a free agent, is the 13th Bulldog since 2007 to leave UMD early for the professional ranks, joining wingers Mason Raymond (with Vancouver in 2007), Rob Bordson (Anaheim in 2010), Mike Connolly (San Jose in 2011), J.T. Brown (Tampa Bay in 2012) and Caleb Herbert (Washington in 2014), defensemen Matt Niskanen (Dallas in 2007), Jason Garrison (Florida in 2008), Evan Oberg (Vancouver in 2009), Dylan Olsen (Chicago in 2010), Justin Faulk (Carolina in 2011) and Chris Casto (Boston in 2013) and goaltender Alex Stalock (San Jose in 2009).