Ranked #74 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #185 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #14 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (EU Goalies)
With the 85th overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Maple Leafs selected 6’4, 198-pound goalie Juuso Ainasto of Jokerit in Finland.
Ainasto is an impressive mover. On his feet, he’s explosive and shows quick footwork. But where he really shines is in the butterfly, keeping his form while moving, taking away ample net. Ainasto uses this to challenge shooters and create a black hole for shooters on direct shots. Side-to-side, he’s able to zip across-crease with ease and speed, beating pucks on his pushes alone, and he’s also able to recover quickly from his extensions and get back into a ready stance.
His hand placement is very strong, rarely covering his body and projected very well. He tracks pucks into his hands and directs them out. He boasts strong playreading, incorporating scans to better predict where the puck and play will meet them.
Ainasto is also a born competitor, battling for each save. His battling extends to shenanigans as well, windmilling his glove before shoving the puck in the shooter’s face, and pushing players who enter his crease. While you’d expect players with that level of bravado to struggle when things go awry, Ainasto has also shown impressive composure, looking like the same goaltender in blowouts as in lower-scoring games, maintaining his form and confidence in his play and reads.
As Ainasto favours an inactive, upright stance that disengages him completely, rather than one with his knees bent and hands at the ready, he’ll need to improve his handling of screens. This is in contrast to his default stance of playing low and wide, which also causes him trouble, as he can be beaten high above the shoulders. He also tends to predict the play a bitT oo much, sometimes neglecting to follow puck carriers on two-on-ones, just assuming they’ll pass, and he can also neglect his rebound control when facing significant shot pressure
Assistant GM Judd Brackett on Juuso Ainasto
Brackett: Ainasto has the size and maybe a little more runway in front of him. His body is a little more immature, but we are very excited about his stylistic play and foundation he has.
