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). Drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2012, he made his NHL debut a few years later and built a reputation as a skilled and durable netminder, especially during the playoffs. Across his career, Korpisalo has also suited up for the Los Angeles Kings and the Ottawa Senators before arriving in Boston.
Early Life and Background
Joonas Korpisalo was born on 28 April 1994 in Pori, Finland, a coastal city known for producing athletes across several winter sports. Growing up in Finland gave him early and constant exposure to ice hockey, the country’s most popular sport. He came from a family with direct ties to the professional game, as his father, Jari Korpisalo, was a former forward who played in the Finnish top flight, Liiga.
That family connection helped shape his path toward goaltending. With guidance and a clear understanding of what professional hockey demanded, Korpisalo progressed through Finland’s junior system at a steady pace. His size, listed at 191 centimeters and 83 kilograms, gave him the frame teams look for in a modern goaltender.
Path to Hockey
Korpisalo began his senior professional career in his native Finland, playing in the SM-liiga during the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons. He split that time between Jokerit and Ilves, two established clubs that gave him meaningful minutes against grown men. Those seasons served as his primary development bridge between junior hockey and the NHL.
His play in Finland convinced the Columbus Blue Jackets to select him in the third round, 62nd overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. On 21 March 2014, the Blue Jackets signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract, formally launching his North American career. The arrangement reflected both the club’s patience with his development and his readiness to compete at a higher level.
Joonas Korpisalo Career
Early Career (2014–2017)
Korpisalo spent his first few seasons in the Blue Jackets organization splitting time between the NHL roster and the American Hockey League. He used those years to refine his technique and adjust to the faster North American game. By the latter half of the 2016–17 NHL season, he had earned the backup role behind starter Sergei Bobrovsky, a significant milestone for a young Finnish goaltender.
On 9 June 2017, the Blue Jackets rewarded his progress with a two-year contract extension, signaling that the club viewed him as part of its long-term plan. The deal gave Korpisalo the security he needed to focus on his game and prepare for a larger role.
Columbus Blue Jackets Breakthrough (2017–2023)
When Bobrovsky departed for the Florida Panthers ahead of the 2019–20 season, Korpisalo stepped into the starting goaltender role for the Blue Jackets. The transition came with growing pains, including a knee injury suffered in a shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on 29 December 2019, which opened the door for rookie Elvis Merzļikins to start in his absence.
Korpisalo signed a two-year, $5.6 million contract extension on 17 April 2020 and reclaimed the starting job for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs. He made his NHL playoff debut on 2 August 2020 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and immediately delivered a 2–0 shutout, becoming the first Blue Jackets goaltender to record a playoff shutout. He repeated the feat on 9 August 2020 with a 3–0 win that eliminated Toronto and gave Columbus a series victory. In the next round against the Tampa Bay Lightning, he set a modern NHL record with 85 saves in a single game, a 3–2 defeat in quintuple overtime that surpassed Kelly Hrudey’s mark of 73 from the Easter Epic.
Los Angeles Kings Era (2023)
During the 2022–23 season, his ninth year in the Columbus organization, Korpisalo was traded, along with defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Jonathan Quick, a conditional 2023 first-round pick, and a 2024 third-round pick on 1 March 2023. The Kings acquired him to be their starting goaltender down the stretch.
Korpisalo closed the regular season strongly, collecting seven wins in 11 appearances. In the playoffs, however, he could not push the Kings past the Edmonton Oilers, who eliminated Los Angeles in six games in the first round.
Ottawa Senators Era (2023–2024)
Following the expiration of his contract with the Kings, Korpisalo entered the open market and signed a five-year, $20 million contract with the Ottawa Senators on 1 July 2023, the opening day of free agency. The deal reflected both his recent workload and the Senators’ belief that he could stabilize their goaltending.
Boston Bruins Era (2024–Present)
On 24 June 2024, Korpisalo was traded, alongside Mark Kastelic and a 2024 first-round pick, to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Linus Ullmark. He was expected to back up Jeremy Swayman, but a contract dispute between the Bruins and Swayman kept the starter out of training camp, and Korpisalo was given the nod for Opening Night, a 6–4 loss to the Florida Panthers.
He earned his first win in black and gold shortly after, a 5–3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, and recorded his first shutout as a Bruin on 2 November 2024, a 3–0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Korpisalo finished the 2024–25 season 11-10-3 in 27 games with a 2.90 goals-against average and a career-high three shutouts. On 11 April 2025, he was named Boston’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
Driving Style and Strengths
Korpisalo is a technically sound, positionally reliable goaltender whose 6’3 frame helps him cover the upper portion of the net. He tracks pucks well through screens and has shown a steady temperament in high-volume games, qualities highlighted by his record-setting 85-save performance against Tampa Bay.
Notable Events and Milestones
His standout moments include back-to-back playoff shutouts of the Toronto Maple Leafs in August 2020 and the modern NHL single-game saves record of 85 in quintuple overtime. In Boston, his first shutout as a Bruin and his Bill Masterton Trophy nomination added further milestones to his resume.
Joonas Korpisalo Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Joonas is the son of Jari Korpisalo, a former forward who played in the Finnish Liiga. That direct family link to professional hockey gave him an early insider’s view of the sport and helped guide his development as a goaltender.
Personal Life
Korpisalo has kept much of his personal life private. Public details about a spouse or children have not been confirmed by reliable sources, so further specifics are omitted here.
2025 Season Performance
Korpisalo’s 2024–25 campaign in Boston turned into a bounceback year. With Jeremy Swayman initially absent due to contract talks, Korpisalo opened the season as the Bruins’ starter and immediately impressed, providing stability while his partner negotiated a return.
Across 27 appearances, he posted an 11-10-3 record, a 2.90 goals-against average, and a career-high three shutouts, giving Boston a dependable one-two punch in net. His steady play fueled discussions that he could push for more starts even after Swayman returned.
His selection as the Bruins’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy on 11 April 2025 underscored the respect he earned around the league. Heading into 2025–26, Korpisalo remains under contract through 2028, giving Boston a long-term option between the pipes.