Joonas Korpisalo Bio
Joonas Korpisalo is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who serves as a goaltender for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on 28 April 1994 in Pori, Finland, Korpisalo has built a reputation as a durable and skilled netminder throughout his NHL career. After being selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, he developed into a reliable starting goaltender before joining the Bruins in June 2024. His career highlights include a record-setting playoff performance and consistent contributions across multiple NHL organizations.
Early Life and Background
Joonas Korpisalo was born in Pori, Finland, a city known for its strong hockey culture. He grew up in a hockey family as the son of former Liiga forward Jari Korpisalo, which provided him with early exposure to the sport and valuable guidance from a young age. This family legacy in hockey helped shape his development as a goaltender and fostered his passion for the game from childhood.
Korpisalo began his hockey journey in Finland, developing his skills in local programs before advancing to junior competitions. His dedication to the goaltending position became evident as he progressed through the youth ranks, ultimately earning recognition for his athletic ability and hockey sense. His physical attributes, including his 6-foot-4 frame, made him an intimidating presence in the crease.
Path to Professional Hockey
Before entering the NHL, Korpisalo honed his craft in Finland’s top hockey league, the SM-liiga. During the 2012-13 season, he played for Jokerit, one of Finland’s premier hockey clubs, where he gained valuable professional experience against seasoned players. The following season, he continued his development with Ilves, further establishing himself as a promising goaltending prospect in European hockey.
His strong performances in the SM-liiga caught the attention of NHL scouts, leading to his selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. The Columbus Blue Jackets chose Korpisalo in the third round with the 62nd overall pick, recognizing his potential to develop into an NHL-caliber goaltender. This draft selection marked the beginning of his transition to North American professional hockey.
Joonas Korpisalo Career
Columbus Blue Jackets (2014-2023)
Korpisalo officially joined the Columbus Blue Jackets organization on 21 March 2014, signing a three-year, entry-level contract. He spent his early years with the organization developing his game and adjusting to the North American style of hockey. His patience and continued development paid off as he worked his way up through the minor leagues toward an NHL roster spot.
During the latter half of the 2016-17 NHL season, Korpisalo earned the role of backup goaltender behind Sergei Bobrovsky, one of the league’s top netminders at the time. This opportunity allowed him to learn from an elite goaltender while gaining valuable NHL experience. The Blue Jackets recognized his progress by signing him to a two-year contract extension on 9 June 2017. When Bobrovsky departed for the Florida Panthers in free agency before the 2019-20 season, Korpisalo stepped into the starting goaltender role for Columbus.
Columbus Blue Jackets Breakthrough (2020)
The 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs became the defining moment of Korpisalo’s tenure with the Blue Jackets. He made his NHL playoff debut on 2 August 2020, and immediately demonstrated his elite abilities by recording a shutout against the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 2-0 victory. This performance made him the first Blue Jackets goaltender to achieve a playoff shutout in franchise history. He followed this with another shutout on 9 August,blanketing the Maple Leafs 3-0 to eliminate them from the playoffs and secure a series victory for Columbus.
In one of the most remarkable performances in modern NHL playoff history, Korpisalo set a record for saves in a single game during Game 1 of the Blue Jackets’ first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He stopped 85 shots in a grueling 3-2 quintuple overtime defeat, surpassing the previous modern NHL record of 73 saves set by Kelly Hrudey in the famous Easter Epic 33 years prior. His endurance and competitiveness in that marathon game solidified his reputation as a clutch performer capable of stealing games for his team.
Los Angeles Kings (2023)
On 1 March 2023, during his ninth season with the Blue Jackets organization, Korpisalo was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Jonathan Quick, a conditional first-round pick in 2023, and a third-round pick in 2024. The trade sent Korpisalo and Vladislav Gavrikov to Los Angeles in exchange for the veteran goaltender and draft assets. Joining the Kings as their new starting goaltender, Korpisalo made an immediate impact by winning seven of his eleven appearances to close the regular season. However, the Kings were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Edmonton Oilers in six games.
Ottawa Senators (2023-2024)
Following his stint with the Kings, Korpisalo entered free agency and signed with the Ottawa Senators on 1 July 2023. The Senators awarded him with a five-year, $20 million contract, reflecting their confidence in his abilities as a starting goaltender. This signing represented a significant commitment from Ottawa as they looked to solidify their goaltending situation for the seasons ahead.
Boston Bruins (2024-Present)
On 24 June 2024, Korpisalo’s journey continued when he was traded to the Boston Bruins. The Bruins acquired him along with Mark Kastelic and a 2024 first-round pick in exchange for Linus Ullmark, one of the league’s top goaltenders. This trade represented a major shift in Boston’s goaltending tandem. Initially slated as the backup to Jeremy Swayman, Korpisalo found himself thrust into a starting role when contract negotiations caused Swayman to miss training camp.
Korpisalo made his Bruins debut on Opening Night against the Florida Panthers, a game that ended in a 6-4 loss. He earned his first victory as a Bruin shortly afterward, stopping 26 shots in a 5-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche. On 2 November 2024, Korpisalo recorded his first shutout with Boston,blanketing the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0. Throughout the season, he proved himself as a dependable backup who could handle increased responsibilities when called upon. He finished the 2024-25 season with an 11-10-3 record, a 2.90 goals-against average, and a career-high three shutouts in 27 appearances. On 11 April 2025, he was named the Bruins’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
Driving Style and Strengths
Korpisalo’s game is built around his exceptional size at 6-foot-4, which allows him to effectively cover the upper portion of the net and challenge shooters. His technical fundamentals and positional play have improved throughout his career, particularly during his time as a starter in Columbus. He demonstrated remarkable endurance and mental toughness during his record-setting 85-save performance in the 2020 playoffs, showing he can perform at an elite level even in the most demanding circumstances.
Notable Events and Milestones
The 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs against Tampa Bay stands as the defining moment of Korpisalo’s career, with his 85-save performance becoming a modern NHL playoff record. His two shutouts against Toronto in the same playoff run marked the first postseason blankes in Blue Jackets history. Throughout his career, he has represented Finland internationally, including participation in the 2026 Winter Olympics where he helped the team capture a bronze medal.
Joonas Korpisalo Career Wins
Throughout his professional career spanning from 2012 to present, Korpisalo has accumulated victories across multiple leagues including the SM-liiga, AHL, and NHL. His most productive seasons came during his time with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he served as the primary starter for multiple campaigns. He has also contributed solid win totals with each organization he has joined, demonstrating his ability to help teams earn points.
NHL Highlights
During his tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Korpisalo established himself as a capable NHL goaltender with multiple seasons of 10 or more wins. His 2020 playoff performance remains his career highlight, as he backstopped the Blue Jackets to their first playoff series victory in franchise history. In the 2024-25 season with Boston, he recorded 11 wins while serving primarily as the backup goaltender. His career includes numerous regular-season victories across his nine seasons with Columbus, his brief stint with Los Angeles, his season in Ottawa, and his current time with Boston.
Other Wins and Performances
Prior to his NHL career, Korpisalo accumulated wins in Finland’s SM-liiga with Jokerit and Ilves during the 2012-14 seasons. He also gained North American experience with AHL affiliates, developing his game in the minor leagues before earning a full-time NHL roster spot. His ability to adapt to different leagues and teams throughout his career demonstrates his consistency as a professional goaltender.
Joonas Korpisalo Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Joonas Korpisalo comes from a hockey family, being the son of Jari Korpisalo, a former forward who played in Finland’s Liiga. This family legacy in professional hockey provided Joonas with early exposure to the sport and mentorship from someone who understood the demands of a professional career. Growing up with a hockey background helped accelerate his development and gave him realistic expectations for what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of the game.
Personal Life
While Korpisalo maintains a professional public profile, details about his personal life remain relatively private. He has not publicly disclosed information about a spouse or children. Throughout his career moves across multiple organizations and countries, he has demonstrated the adaptability required to thrive as a professional athlete in a demanding league.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 NHL season marked a significant chapter in Joonas Korpisalo’s career as he joined the Boston Bruins following a mid-2024 trade. After entering the season as the expected backup to Jeremy Swayman, circumstances thrust him into an expanded role when contract negotiations delayed Swayman’s availability. Korpisalo responded by earning the Opening Night start and demonstrating his capability to handle heavy workloads when necessary. His early season performance against Colorado showed his ability to steal games, while his shutout against Philadelphia in November reinforced his value as a reliable option in net.
Throughout the season, Korpisalo maintained steady statistics while serving as part of Boston’s goaltending tandem. His 2.90 goals-against average and career-high three shutouts represented solid numbers for a backup goaltender in a challenging division. His performance helped keep the Bruins competitive on nights when he was called upon, and his experience provided stability to a team adjusting to new dynamics in net. His nomination for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy recognized not only his on-ice contributions but also his perseverance through multiple team transitions throughout his career.
Looking ahead, Korpisalo remains under contract with Boston through the 2027-28 season. His partnership with Jeremy Swayman gives the Bruins one of the more interesting goaltending situations in the league, with both netminders capable of carrying significant workloads. As he enters the latter stages of his career, Korpisalo continues to demonstrate the consistency and professionalism that has allowed him to remain a contributing NHL player since his debut in 2012.