Born Mar 17, 2008 · Kerava, Finland — Drafted 2026 · Rd 3, #21 overall
| SEASON | GP | W | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 14 | 6 | 3.28 | .892 | 0 |
| CAREER | 14 | 6 | 3.28 | .892 | 0 |
Juuso Ainasto
Toronto Maple Leafs
2026 NHL Draft · No. 85 overall
2025-26 Season
Career Statistics
| Season | Team | GP | W | L | OT | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Jokerit U20 (FIN-JR) | 14 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 3.28 | .892 | 0 |
| Career | 14 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 3.28 | .892 | 0 |
Juuso Ainasto is a goaltender selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round (85th overall) of the 2026 NHL Draft — and a genuine late bloomer: he has never represented Finland at any level, unusual for a drafted European goalie. A product of small-club KJT in Kerava, just north of Helsinki, he was picked up by storied Jokerit's under-18 program in 2024-25.
That timing is its own story. Jokerit collapsed and went bankrupt after withdrawing from the KHL in 2022, then was revived by a group including club youth products Teuvo Teräväinen and Esa Lindell; the team is set to return to Finland's top-tier Liiga in 2026-27, and Ainasto is among the first NHL picks out of the rebuilt program. He dominated Finnish U18 — a 1.74 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage — before a tougher stint at U20.
Elite Prospects made him a favourite of its goalie scouts, and analysts waved off his modest U20 numbers: "we don't really weigh results... it's more about the process, and Ainasto's process is solid."
This page gathers Ainasto's measurements and draft details in one place. InGoal Magazine will expand its coverage as his career develops.
People Are Asking About Juuso Ainasto
Who drafted Juuso Ainasto?
Juuso Ainasto was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2026 NHL Draft (Round 3, No. 85 overall).
What team does Juuso Ainasto play for?
Juuso Ainasto plays for the Jokerit Jr. in Finland’s U20 league.
How big is Juuso Ainasto?
Juuso Ainasto is listed at 6’4″, 198 pounds, and catches left.
Where is Juuso Ainasto from?
Juuso Ainasto was born in Kerava, Finland.
What did Juuso Ainasto win in his draft season?
He led Jokerit to the Finnish U18 (SM-sarja) championship in spring 2026, then flashed at the U20 level after a mid-season call-up — posting a shutout in his U20 debut. He is a homegrown product of the revived Jokerit, the storied Helsinki club relaunched by NHLers Teuvo Teräväinen and Esa Lindell and climbing back to Finland’s top league.
Who drafted Juuso Ainasto?
The Toronto Maple Leafs, in the third round (85th overall) of the 2026 NHL Draft.
Where does Juuso Ainasto play?
For Jokerit in Helsinki, Finland — he split 2025-26 between Jokerit’s U18 and U20 teams and was carried on the senior Mestis roster.
Has Juuso Ainasto played for Finland internationally?
Not yet as of the 2026 draft — his rapid mid-season climb from U18 to a U20 starter came before any national-team call-up.
What is Juuso Ainasto's signature trait?
Size paired with speed: a 6-foot-4 goalie whom scouts call one of the fastest movers in the draft, with an explosive butterfly and obvious joy for the position — one Elite Prospects scout wrote, “there are few things better than Juuso Ainasto hockey.”
How old is Juuso Ainasto?
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Sources & credits: This profile is compiled from club, league and local-media reporting — among them NHL.com and the NHL clubs, the CHL and its member leagues (OHL, WHL and QMJHL), the USHL, NAHL, USA Hockey, Hockey Canada, the IIHF and national federations, plus regional and club outlets. Any direct quotes belong to their original publishers; career data via Elite Prospects.