We finally cracked the Top 10 players on the Top 25 Under 25 countdown here at The Cannon! Thanks to the more than 120 of you who participated in our reader poll. Throughout the month of August, we’ll reveal a new player each weekday based on your ranking.
#10 Joonas Korpisalo
Voting
10th out of 55 eligible players (1698 points)
Highest placement: #4 (3 ballot)
Most common placement: #11 (17)
Biography
Birthdate: April 28th, 1994
Birthplace: Pori, Finland
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 183 lbs
Position: Goaltender
Acquired: Drafted by Columbus in Round 3 of the 2012 draft (#62 overall)
2017-18 Season
For most of the 2017-18 season Joonas Korpisalo backstopped the Columbus Blue Jackets when Sergei Bobrovsky needed to rest. He won eight of the 18 games he played in for Columbus.
When the Jackets had an extended break, Korpisalo was sent to the Cleveland Monsters where he won three of eight games. It was a bit of an adjustment for him. I don’t think Korpisalo is one who can immediately shake the rust off his gears. Often times he started the game shaky on his skates and wasn’t as quick to stop the puck. By the end of the game, he would be in 2016 Calder Cup Playoff form.
The more I watch Korpisalo the more I realize he is not a backup goaltender. He is a starter through and through.
2018-19 Forecast
Korpisalo will be Bobrovsky’s backup for the 2018-19 season. Korpisalo will have another alright season spent shaking the rust off his skates every 10 or so games.
If Korpisalo wants to overtake Bobrovsky, he is going to need to learn to start every game he plays as though he’s played 10 in a row.