We look forward to seeing him in this tournament. Hes a dark horse candidate to be a leading scorer for the US at this tournament and if he can finish on his chances like he did his first game, its very much a possibility. EDMONTON, AB - DECEMBER 26: Joel Mtt #32, Topi Niemel #7 and Roni Hirvonen #22 of Finland celebrate a goal against Austria in the third period during the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on December 27, 2021 in Edmonton, Canada. Thanks . Finland's Roni Hirvonen (22) is stopped by Latvia goalie Bruno Bruveris (30) in a world juniors game Tuesday. Its hard to be optimistic about the draft when you sacrifice your picks for assets in hopes of a deep playoff run each year, only to be let down seven games in. 2022 World Junior Championship Team Canada Final Roster, 2022 World Junior Championship Team Finland Final Roster, Capitals Ties With Russia Run Deeper Than Ovechkin, Kings Have Several Options to Replace Edler. TORONTO Mitch Marner hit yet another milestone on Saturday. The 23-year-old, entering the final year of his entry level contract, was loaned to Vaxjo of Sweden's top professional league last season and responded by averaging almost a point per game. The 20-year-old is under contract with HIFK in Finland's top professional league but it's still undetermined whether he'll return this season. Hirvonen is five-foot-nine, an inch shorter than Granlund, but a terrific playmaker with a high hockey IQ. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Nick Robertson will unfortunately have zero impact on the 2022-23 season, as he underwent shoulder surgery, ultimately keeping him out six months. He makes a good first pass and jump into the play. Hes the former play-by-play voice of the London Jr. Knights for Rogers TV and currently hosts the Sticks in the 6ix podcast. The same day the Maple Leafs landed Foligno, they also acquired David Rittich from the Calgary Flames for their 2022 third-round pick. Fraser Minten is staring out the window of a Sandman Hotel in Prince George, B.C. He is not as good a skater as Makar, but some day hes going to be a power player and a penalty-killing defenceman, Pennanen said. rights reserved. World Juniors: Maple Leafs Lack of Prospects a Sign of Sacrifice | Yardbarker The 2023 edition of the World Junior U20 Championship to this point has gone off without a hitch that. He began his broadcasting with CBCs Hockey Night in Canada team as well as being part of their coverage of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. Toronto will have prospects representing Team Canada, Team USA, and Team Finland at this year's World Junior Championship. Should the Toronto Maple Leafs hang onto their first-round pick in the 2023 Draft, they'll select a very talented player. For interview requests or any other inquiries, you can follow Alexs social media pages listed at the bottom of his articles like this one. Marner, selected Thursday to the NHL All-Star . "On the ice and off the ice, he wants to know what the best are doing and how they're achieving their fitness standards, for example," Wickenheiser said, "and he really has a plan for himself of where he wants to see himself go. 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 . Alex Hobson is a writer and a radio producer for 610 CKTB. But on top of the tenacity and physical play Hyman has, Knies also has a very good shot. And Hirvonen is captain of the Finnish entry at the world junior hockey championship, while Niemel is an alternate captain. The ceiling for Hirvonen with the Maple Leafs might very well cap out at the third line, but if he can offer anything close to what Pierre Engvall does, while on a cheaper deal, the Leafs will be laughing. He certainly is undersized but with any luck that isnt going to hold the 19 year-old back from one day cracking the Toronto Maple Leafs roster. While a majority of. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Matthew Knies will probably remember his opening game at the 2022 World Juniors for being in the middle of the most bizarre review and re-review of a goal. The 2023 World Junior Championship begins today with four games: Finland/Switzerland, Sweden/Austria, Latvia/USA, and Czechia/Canada. FINLAND PULLS AHEAD! Hirvonen is a centre, unafraid to compare his game to that of Mikael Granlund, a 10-year NHLer with Minnesota and Nashville. Or, you could see it from the standpoint that the Maple Leafs lack of representation comes from their lack of draft picks over the past few years at least in the first three rounds. He's putting up nearly a point a game in the minors and showed well . Over the last 10 tournaments, the Leafs have sent only a handful of prospects to Canadas team at the world juniors: Nazem Kadri (2011), Morgan Rielly (2013), Frederik Gauthier (2014, 2015), Mitch Marner and Travis Dermott (2016), and goalie Ian Scott (2019). NHL.com is providing in-depth prospect analysis for each of its 32 teams from August 8-September 8. Heres a look at the sacrifices made. Hirvonen will be joining Niemela on Team Finland at the 2022 World Junior Championship. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. As I wrote about the other day, the Toronto Maple Leafs have three. Where were they traded and when for the Maple Leafs not to have any representatives at this years World Junior Championship? Now, surely we cant pretend to assume Thompson wouldve been a World Junior star, but the fact is the Maple Leafs moved another top three-round pick for a mediocre acquisition. Another 18-year-old who will have to earn his ice time. Clearly a trade the Maple Leafs brass would like back considering the Blue Jackets used the first-rounder to select Corson Ceulemans with the 25th overall pick. Hes got really good offensive instincts., Drafted: 2020 (fourth round, 106th overall). Said Joshua Roy (MTL) was the other. Topi Niemela (TOR) scores his first goal of the tournament. Oilers Have Made 3 Forwards Available for Trade Who Goes? The 10 Best NHL Players From the 2013 World Juniors They were drafted five picks apart in 2020. Still, no first round pick and just two of those picks came in the first three rounds with Fraser Minten going 38th overall in the second round and Nicholas Moldenhauer going 95th at the tail end of the third round. The World Juniors provides a sneak peek at the next crop of potential NHL stars. Team Finland will play Germany in the tournaments first game on December 26th at 2 pm ET. Brandon Lisowsky is having a great season so far with 8 goals and 18 points in 16 WHL games, but it doesnt seem good enough to garner much interest for Team Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs have a few prospects eligible to play in the 2023 World Junior Championships which will take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton, New Brunswick starting on. (Statistics as of. Relatively unknown to the Leafs fan base, Amirov was a surprise pick. Hes been taking Finlands top pro league by storm this year, so one can only imagine what hell be able to do with a years worth of experience and training under his belt after he was already named the tournaments top defenseman once. Some teams fear Russian players will choose to play in the lucrative KHL. . Knies had three points in five games. The Toronto Maple Leafs (25-9-7) hit the road to battle the Detroit Red WIngs (17-15-7) Thursday evening at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit in a battle between Original Six foes. 553 They selected him with the #64th overall pick. The rearranged World Juniors give everyone a chance to get a dose of hockey this summer, not in the least Toronto Maple Leafs fans wholl have high expectations. Recently named captain of the Victoriaville Tigres of the QMJHL, Abramov has matured as both a scorer and a leader. Lets hope he can pick up his offensive production over the next few games and lets hope Finland can finish in the gold medal game. With Seattle Kraken prospect Matthew Beniers and Calgary Flames prospect Matthew Coronato set to lead the charge for the States, Knies has an opportunity to step into a big secondary role for the United States. Instead, guys like Noah Laba, Tyler Boucher and Sam Lipkin got call-ups when theyre useful role players but have hardly stood out this season on their respective teams. Matthew Knies out of the University of Minnesota gets the ball rolling as Toronto's first untouchable prospect. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Related: 2022 World Junior Championship Team Finland Final Roster. And despite not making Team Canada, the fact that he was even considered to make the team considering where he was drafted should be seen as a positive sign. Thats it so far, hopefully we get answers about the USA team soon and they can play their next game against Sweden on Wednesday at 9:30pm est. "I thought within his game, he always had his strong attributes," Toronto AHL coach Greg Moore said. Jan 10, 2023. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Roni Hirvonen came up with a big performance to help his team pick up a win in their first game at the 2022 World Junior Championship. Its unclear whether they will venture to Toronto in September for what would be their first training camp with the Leafs. Some players will enjoy great careers, while other highly-touted prospects will fail to meet the lofty expectations. Breaking ankles, scoring goals.Typical Saturday night for @Matthew_Knies pic.twitter.com/3jEZtTDXLl. Toronto Maple Leafs: High Expectations For Prospects at World Juniors EDMONTON, AB - DECEMBER 26: Joel Mtt #32, Topi Niemel #7 and Roni Hirvonen #22 of Finland celebrate a goal. Roni Hirvonen puts Finland ahead 3-2 with just 23.3 seconds to go. (Stats from eliteprospects.com). However, lets recap Knies performance so far. Lightning. He covers the Toronto Maple Leafs, World Juniors, and the NHL Entry Draft, and is also part of the Sticks in the 6ix Podcast, presented by THW. With 25-man rosters for. If he continues to progress, hell have a better shot at making the team the year. Credit: Photo by Steven Ellis . On July 7, 2022, the Maple Leafs moved Petr Mrazek and his mistake-of-a-contract to the Chicago Blackhawks along with their 2022 first-round pick as a salary dump, in exchange for the second-round pick the Maple Leafs would use to select Minten. "We want him to dominate every time he steps on the ice," said Hayley Wickenheiser, the Maple Leafs assistant general manager of player development. Topi Niemela got drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round of the 2020 NHL draft. Hes also second among defenseman in scoring, only two points behind the highest-scoring defenseman. One of the reasons he was selected is his productive season at the University of Connecticut in the NCAA. Mike Zeisberger, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. The Finnish captain had a goal . The 19-year-old is having a good season in the NCAA for the University of Minnesota. This past year, the Maple Leafs rebounded with five selections over the seven-round draft. Matthew Knies (TOR) ties the game with a wicked snipe with nine seconds left in the third period. With the process we go through, we compile lists, and we have had lots and lots of Canadians on our lists, but the way the lists go, we just havent had those guys in the spots where we were picking, said Lilley, a Leafs scout since 2006. I also predicted big performances from all three. Regardless of which team he is playing for, just playing in the tournament will be an incredible experience for him. 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Here are some 2020/21 highlights from the newest #Leafs prospect, Alex Steeves This year, there are no Leafs prospects guaranteed a spot in the tournament, but there are a couple with a great chance to represent their countries. "He played exceptionally well for them," Dubas said of Holmberg's brief AHL stint. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound winger had an impressive freshman season for the University of Minnesota, tallying 15 goals and 33 points in 33 games. He had six points in seven games at last years tournament and helped Finland beat Russia in the Bronze Medal game. The defenceman is five-foot-11, shoots right and models his game after Cale Makar, and the younger version of Erik Karlsson. Matthew Knies is seemingly the most likely to make the Leafs in the short-term, but that doesnt mean thatNiemel and Hirvonen cant aspire to making the NHL. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about But they did venture over earlier in the summer, a week before other prospects had their development camp. Lilley says: Its a 19-year-olds tournament. Toronto has 11 prospects eligible to be in the tournament this year, but only the best get selected to represent their country. Hes also logging big minutes comparatively, playing 14:17 in their first game and 15:17 in their second game. If theres any prospect Maple Leafs fans are going to be watching closely this year, its Niemela. Of course, were talking about Matthew Knies, wholl likely be starring in the United States top-six when they kick off their campaign versus Germany. Braeden Kressler is an interesting prospect. OHL; QMJHL; WHL . Again, this could easily change over the coming games and for the Finnish teams fortunes, lets hope it does. "Physically, he is very imposing. Follow on Twitter. Hes working on his defence. Lots of skill on the ice, Pennanen said. Surely its not the end of the world for a team to not have a representative at this best-on-best tournament, but it is a compliment to have prospects competing for gold year in and year out. [Maple Leafs 32 in 32: Season preview | 3 Questions | Fantasy breakdown], How acquired: Selected with No. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution Last year, the Toronto Maple Leafs saw prospects Matthew Knies suit up for Team USA and Roni Hirvonen and Topi Niemela play for Finland. It will be easier to go there because you have a good friend with you, said Niemel, standing with Hirvonen in the media centre at Rogers Place. Absolutely, Ty Voit is undersized and may never be a regular NHL player with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a result. He could make his NHL debut following the end of Minnesota's season. Through two games, Hirvonen hasnt scored a goal and only has one assist to show for his effort. The tournament kicked off on August 10 and the Maple Leafs have three prospects playing in the tournament. Kind of a good all-around player., Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. has been on fire with the Sarnia Sting this season, Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects Update: Voit, Knies and Minten, Suns Wanted to Fight the Pelicans After Zion Williamson Threw Down an Unneccessary and Awesome 360 Dunk, Early World Juniors Predictions for Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects, Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Report: Steeves, Shaw, and Voit, Toronto Maple Leafs Goaltender Carousel Continues to Spin. Its the luck of the draw. Theyve known each other since they were kids. In Finlands seven games, Roni Hirvonen had seven points and Niemela had six points. Matthew Knies was expected to. While we all know the health concerns around Amirov, both Hirvonen and Niemel played for their country at the World Junior tournament on multiple occasions with Niemel even being recognized as the tournaments top defenceman in 2021, earning bronze in 2021 and silver at the 2022 tournament. Leave a comment below and let me know. . Of course, prior to the World Juniors over the Christmas period the Team USA roster will need to be trimmed down to 25 players and injuries might occur, but the reality is that the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect is likely not getting a look in. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Niemela, who plays for Oulun Karpat of Finlands SM-Liiga, is currently seventh in league scoring with 24 points in 30 games. The 5-10, 177-pounder scored 55 goals in 46 games in his final year with Peterborough of the Ontario Hockey League in 2019-20 and will be looked upon to provide offense in the NHL this season. Knies announced in April he'll be returning to the University of Minnesota, a decision the Maple Leafs fully support. All three players have aged out and are ineligible for this years tournament. Niemela is a puck-moving defenceman with three assists in nine games for Karpat in Finlands top league. Its telling that the Team USA roster has all but completely shunned the CHL (only 2 call-ups play in the CHL). Perhaps it speaks less to Voits amazing form and more so to an inability to look beyond their borders for players. I. Were excited for him. Toronto's group of prospects include Matthew Knies, Topi. Prior to the season . There are six Leafs prospects at the world juniors in Edmonton three on the Russian team (forwards Rodion Amirov and Mikhail Abramov, and goalie Artur Akhtyamov) and three on Finland (defencemen Mikko Kokkonen and Topi Niemela and forward Roni Hirvonen). It was a lot of fun and good to see everyone, the staff members there and some NHL players and get to train with those guys. But knock Dubas all you want, his draft classes since he took over GM duties look promising, and should be given a chance to flower before the abilities of him and his scouting team are questioned. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. To order copies of He covers the Toronto Maple Leafs, World Juniors, and the NHL Entry Draft, and is also part of the Sticks in the 6ix Podcast, presented by THW. Looking for him to play more, earn some special teams ice time, become more of a leader as a returning player., Drafted: 2020 (second round, 59th overall). The Maple Leafs' rebuild is off to a good start following the Mike Babcock hiring. . He likes to play and he wants to compete. But given his style of play, I think hes capable of handling it. After winning every game in the preliminary round, USA was upset by Czechia in the quarter finals while Finland won the silver metal after taking Canada to overtime in the gold medal game. The move was to acquire Nick Foligno and Stefan Noesen for a run in the playoffs. He scored twice, tops among Finnish blueliners. They grabbed notable names like Rodion Amirov in the first round, Roni Hirvonen in the second round and Topi Niemel in the third round. Theyre both skilful and they can make plays, Pennanen said. I hope all of the Leafs prospects do well in the tournament. The Los Angeles Kings have nine players in Edmonton, the Detroit Red Wings have seven prospects, followed by the Anaheim Ducks, the New Jersey Devils and the Leafs with six each. This is a great opportunity to compare him against his peers, the top players in his own age group. EDMONTONIt would seem Maple Leafs prospects Roni Hirvonen and Topi Niemel are inseparable. He has the tools to be a top-six winger at the NHL level, but with the right development, I could definitely see him assuming a role on the left side of the top line someday. Toronto Maple Leafs news fromFanSided Daily, Toronto Maple Leafs Put Streak on the Line vs Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson InjuredAgain. Through three games in the KHL, he has a .904 save percentage, in eight games in the second division, he has a .935 save percentage, and three games at the junior level, he has a .926 save percentage. In fact, with Justin Holls deal expiring this coming summer, there is certainly going to be places up for grab on that side of the Toronto Maple Leafs defense. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onToronto Maple Leafs and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Toronto Maple Leafs 153rd overall selection, Forward Ty Voit #96 of the Sarnia Sting (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images). That interested fans were more focused on the 2023 draft eligibles with the hopes of getting an early glimpse at some of the names the Leafs may target this June. Firstly, the Maple Leafs were so close to having a prospect in the tournament had Voit been considered for the U.S. team. He got selected by Toronto with the #59th overall pick. They've known each other since they were kids. by Toronto Maple Leafs: Will Any of These Marlies Make the Jump. To order copies of The Toronto Maple Leafs will be keeping a close eye on their four prospects and hoping to see great things. He has been writing about sports since 2015 and has been with The Hockey Writers since October of 2020. While most NHL clubs have a horse in the race when it comes to this tournament, the Toronto Maple Leafs have no current prospects in the tournament for the first time since 1982 a span of 40 years. Hirvonen was one of Finlands more clutch players last year and scored some crucial goals for them, and hes relentless on the puck to the point where it gets under his opponents skin. Toronto Maple Leafs: What Is Nick Robertson's Role Next Season? He scored in all three games and was named MVP at the Karjala Cup as Russias under-20 team beat senior teams from Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic. The Finnish national team picked. Hirvonen, what a great player, unbelievable. While Minten is proving to still be a reputable pick, the Blackhawks used the first-rounder to take Sam Rinzel 25th overall in 2022 and it was another first-round selection the Maple Leafs had to move to shed salary from a contract they signed. Artur Akhtyamov (G) entered this season as arguably the Leafs' top goalie prospect, but his season has been up and down. Minten was added to Team Canadas summer camp earlier in the year, but was passed on by a team that had more than 10 returnees from the summer when Canada won a gold medal. . Hes a smart player, hes got excellent speed. He definitely deserves an invite to camp, but if he doesnt make the team this year, hes eligible for the 2024 tournament as well. The 20-year-old, under contract with Karpat in Finland's top professional league for another year, had six assists in seven games for Finland at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship and was voted the top defenseman at the 2021 World Juniors. Whether drafted or undrafted, it is a great opportunity to showcase their talent. He saw time on their penalty kill and on the powerplay, suggesting that he is certainly well-rounded and able to adapt to the different roles, despite his youth and the fact hes playing against men. NHL Rumors: Canadiens, Bruins, Oilers, Canucks, Maple Leafs Have 3 Good Trade Options to Fix Their Forward Lines, William Nylanders Success Means Unclear Future in Toronto, Canadiens Dont Need to Rush to Add Pierre-Luc Dubois, Oilers Finally Getting the Version of Jack Campbell They Paid For, Revisiting the Golden Knights Trade for Max Pacioretty, Mark Messier NHL Legend and 6-Time Stanley Cup Winner, The Strangest Superstitions in NHL History, 3 Takeaways From Oilers 5-2 Victory Over Kraken in Kanes Return, Wilds Brodin & Spurgeon Lead Way in Win Over Capitals, Canucks Prospect Report: Lekkerimaki, McDonough, Bains & More, Bruins Weekly: Krejci, Maple Leafs, Trade Assets & More. Komarov is 5-foot-10 and 213 pounds. Regardless of how you look at it, heres a look at how the Maple Leafs were left without a single prospect in this years U20 tournament. To order On April 11, 2021, the Maple Leafs moved their 2021 first-round pick, their 2022 fourth-round pick which they eventually got back and their 2021 fourth-round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks, respectively. Matthew Knies is a 2021 second-round pick of the Leafs selected #57th overall in that draft. Like his good friend Niemela, he's not the biggest player (5-9, 164) but has good leadership qualities and served as Finland's captain at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, where he had seven points (three goals, four assists) in seven games. So what happened to the picks that couldve been? American Matt Knies is the other. Was Lou Lamoriello as Good as Maple Leafs Fans Remember? Topi Niemela - Finland - The Finnish born defenseman was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs 64th overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The Toronto Maple Leafs have a few prospects eligible to play in the 2023 World Junior Championships which will take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton, New Brunswick starting on December 26th, 2022. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ty Voit has somehow been overlooked when it comes to the USA World Juniors camp. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. ", How acquired: Selected with No. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. 59 pick in 2020 NHL Draft, 2021-22 season: HIFK (Liiga): 46 GP, 9-17-26. But, for the first time since 1982, the Toronto Maple Leafs won't have a single prospect taking part in this year's World Juniors. Tverberg getting chosen by Team Canada for the 2022 World Junior Championship was a bit of a surprise. Here's a look at the prospects and young players the Maple Leafs could offer in a trade deadline swap. Among moving other picks in the Mark Giordano trade and the Ilya Lyubushkin trade, maybe the toughest one to swallow came in July 2022.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thehockeywriters_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_9',828,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thehockeywriters_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thehockeywriters_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_10',828,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thehockeywriters_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-1-multi-828{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Andrew is in his 8th year reporting for The Hockey Writers covering the Toronto Maple Leafs. Now he's older and will likely have a more prominent role for the team. Fraser Minten was a late cut from last summers makeup tournament after getting an invite to Canadas camp. (Hirvonen) can be good on the power player and everything else. The Maple Leafs third-round pick in 2020 first made a name for himself at last years tournament, when he finished with eight points in seven games. Lilley says: Hes playing in three different leagues, but quite frankly hes doing his part in stopping the puck. Oilers News & Rumors: Kulak, Kane, Campbell, Keith, Brown, Deslauriers, 2022-23 Projections for the 4 Oilers Who Received Qualifying Offers, Montreal Canadiens 2023 Trade Deadline Preview, 3 Potential Trade Destinations for Panthers Sam Bennett, Oilers List of Blue Line Trade Targets Includes Surprising Names, Blackhawks Reichel, Domi, & Kurashevs Line Hints at Bright Future, Lightnings Western Conference Road Trip Will Test Team, Ex-Maple Leaf Ilya Mikheyev & His Season With the Canucks, Devils Depth Key to 2022-23 Playoff Appearance, Blues Contract for Schenn Could Impact OReilly Re-Signing. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the. Toronto Maple Leafs news fromFanSided Daily, time on their penalty kill and on the powerplay, Toronto Maple Leafs seeing something in him, Toronto Maple Leafs Will Send 3 Players to the World Junior Championship, Best Reactions to Harry Caray Hologram Singing 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame', Toronto Maple Leafs and Rodion Amirov's KHL Club Extend Loan. If you care about the players who will one day wear the Maple Leafs jersey, youll be keeping track of Finland and Russia. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; The first major move of the Toronto Maple Leafs . As I wrote about the other day, the Toronto Maple Leafs have three prospects at this years World Juniors and all should play a key role for their countries if they are to make it far. They were drafted five picks apart in 2020. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images). As mentioned, Voit didnt even get the call for the American squad, while Knies hit the age of 20 as well and became unavailable to his country for the U20 tournament. That said, the Maple Leafs do have five picks in the upcoming 2023 NHL Draft and have yet to move their first-round pick. He finished last season with 21 points in 54 games for Assat of the same league, and hes on pace to crush his career high, so it would appear switching teams was the best thing for the Maple Leafs 2020 second round pick. Hockey Canada Director of Player Personnel said that Tverberg was among the most improved players at selection camp and was one of the toughest cuts to make. Jan 2, 2021 Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Matthew Knies saved his best game for the last one of the group stage, helping USA win Group B. . . Hirvonen and Niemel worked out with the likes of John Tavares and Michael Bunting while getting to know the organization and city before returning to Finland to attend their world junior camp. Prospect Pool Overview: Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs have some notable names in the prospect pipeline. The 18-year-old has five goals and four assists in 21 games for Assat in Finlands top league. But theres still time for that to change. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution It was announced this week that a pair of Leafs prospects, Matthew Knies and Ryan Tverberg, will compete for spots on their respective World Juniors teams. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Lilley says: Hes a steady guy. Before the World Juni0rs was shutdown, Bedard was having a great showing for Canada. You can follow him on Twitter at @AndrewGForbes. Just five picks before the Maple Leafs selected Niemela. Finally,Niemel is probably the hardest to predict. December is here, which means the World Junior Championship is soon approaching. The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today the club's 27-man roster that will participate in the 2022 Traverse City Prospect Tournament at Centre ICE Arena in Traverse City, MI. A prospect could go from a projected third-round pick to a second-round selection. With many players aging out from the 2022 tournament, he will have a good shot at making it this year. ", How acquired: Selected with No. This is the player with the most assists in the whole of the CHL, not just the OHL. Difficult cuts. Toronto is encouraged by his combination of hustle and muscle (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) and sees him as an effective NHL power forward after continued development in college. What gives Maple Leafs management reason for optimism was the point-per-game pace he put together in the AHL upon his return. If you care about the team with the maple leaf on its jersey, youll be watching Canada at the world junior hockey tournament. Fast forward a year, and Knies easily looks like he could have been a first-round pick. The roster. With the departure of Heinola from the teams defensive corps, Niemela will without a doubt be Finlands rock on the back end, especially considering the unit as a whole is relatively inexperienced. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. In the last Toronto Maple Leafs Draft Watch, we took a look at Juuso Valimaki. Finland coach Antti Pennanen said the comparison is warranted. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. Right now, there is already a log-jam of defensemen in the line-up, though the fact he shoots right might very well smooth his path to the Leafs. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. While no Maple Leafs prospects will be representing Team Canada this year, they will have some representation in North America. Republication or distribution of this content is For those players that have not been drafted yet, playing well at a tournament such as this can do wonders for their draft position. The Toronto Maple Leafs had three prospects playing in the tournament: Roni Hirvonen and Topi Niemel played for Team Finland, and Matthew Knies played on one of the Team USA rosters. ", How acquired: Selected with No. Lets hope this doesnt derail USAs tournament as theyre poised to really make some noise and defend their gold medal from last year. He has a great shot. This year, Hirvonen will be serving as Finlands captain. Making his World Juniors debut, Knies opened the scoring in the first period, scoring aone-timer goal on a setup from teammate Logan Cooley. There have been some standout performances by players throughout the system and . "They finished the season in first place with a record of 32-15-13 for 77 points . Tony Ferrari takes a deep look at what the team's future looks. The tournament starts on December 26th, 2021, and ends with the Gold Medal game on January 5th, 2022. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto For interview requests or any other inquiries, you can follow Alexs social media pages listed at the bottom of his articles like this one. He has offensive instincts that should land him on the power play. Get a bit more ice time than he did last year, and take on a leadership role. He has an offensive game, yet he doesnt give up a lot of defensively., Drafted: 2019 (fourth round, 115th overall). His performance was good enough to earn him defenseman of the tournament honours, and he was a huge factor for the bronze medal-winning Finns. Its more likely a year away for the 20-year-olds, who are under contract for one more season in the Finnish top league Hirvonen with HIFK Helsinki, Niemel with Karpat. To order Roni Hirvonen is a 2020 second-round pick. Fantasy; Betting; Shows; Schedule; Player News; Starting Goalies; Line Combos; Ad. Last time round they found themselves eliminated at the quarter-final stage by Czechia and it wouldnt be entirely surprising to see a similar result this time, especially given the insistence on not picking a squad of best possible options. We create the lists without any biases toward country or nationality. Niemel picked up an assist in Mondays loss to Canada, his fourth of the tournament. Nikita Korostolev 11-2-16 | KIT @ SAR | 1G 0A 1P | -1 He provides analysis on the top draft-eligible players, prospects drafted by NHL teams and all other relevant prospect information. And. Moldenhauer was up against tough competition to even get an invite to the Canadian camp and their fourth-round pick Dennis Hildeby was an overager when the Maple Leafs selected him 122nd overall in 2022. There would have been one more, American Nick Robertson, but the Leafs decided to keep the 19-year-old in Toronto to prepare for the upcoming NHL season, with training camp opening Jan. 3. The hockey world wasn't exactly taken by Zdeno Chara early in his career, either. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images). Republication or distribution of this content is So the Maple Leafs learned a harsh lesson on Saturday night. Additionally, he was able to notch roughly a point every second game in the Finnish Liiga also; again despite playing against much older competition. Also, it just broke today that they will forfeit their second game as there has been more than one player who has tested positive for Covid-19. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. Hes good defensively. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. His motor has been compared to that of former Leaf Zach Hyman, and his play last season was impressive enough to the point where there were talks of him joining the Maple Leafs at the end of the 2021-22 season. 57 pick in 2021 NHL Draft, 2021-22 season: University of Minnesota (NCAA): 33 GP, 15-18-33. Still the tournament is off to a great start with a number of NHL prospects leading the charge and some 2023 NHL Draft eligibles making noise for their respective countries. 4-4. #Leafs #LeafsForever, Maple Leafs Acquire Matt Murray & Draft Picks For Future Considerations, Maple Leafs Commentary: Matt Murray, Goalie Solution or Mrazek Mistake. The Leafs didnt draft any Canadians among their six picks in 2019, and only two of their 12 picks from 2020 were Canadian. 53 pick in 2019 NHL Draft, 2021-22 season: Toronto (AHL): 28 GP, 16-12-28; Toronto (NHL): 10 GP, 1-0-1. Knies will be representing Team USA at the World Junior Championship. Go To Comments. Montreal Alouettes; CFL; NFL; . Nick Moldenhauer is another long shot to make Team Canada, but he is leading the USHL in goals and is second in points right now with 10 goals and 18 points in 13 games. rights reserved. 648 Mintens injury to start the season might slightly hamper his chances at making the team, but he has 3 goals and 11 points in 7 WHL games since returning. Tore it up with Notre Dame this year with 15 G, 32 PTS in 29 GP. It was a really good experience, Hirvonen said. The Markham, Ont., native had a goal and an assist to hit the 500-point mark in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Somehow though, the Pittsburgh-born youngster hasnt been given the chance to help the United States in their quest for World Juniors gold. Both players aged out this time around and werent able to return with Finland to the tournament being held in Moncton and Halifax leaving the hopes of the Maple Leafs having representation at the tournament on the shoulders of their more recent prospects. Toronto will have prospects representing Team Canada, Team USA, and Team Finland at this years World Junior Championship. Expect him to slot right back into his role on Finlands top line and improve on last years tournament. Auston Matthews, Calle Jarnkrok, Conor Timmins, Zach Aston-Reese and Timothy Liljegren also scored for Toronto, which swept its three-game season series with the Flyers. The sixth-place team in the Western Conference, the Minnesota Wild (22-13-2), host the 11th-ranked St. Louis Blues (19-17-3) at Xcel Energy Center on Sunday at 7:00 PM ET.Minnesota grabbed a 5-1 victory at home its last time out on January 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.In its most recent game Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. He also makes weekly appearances on THWs Maple Leafs Lounge Roundtable. ", Video: VAN@TOR: Robertson fires home a Nylander feed on rush, How acquired: Selected with No. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. Noesen played just one game for the Maple Leafs in the regular season and ended up heading to Carolina the following season. Hip surgery forced. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to be represented well at the 2022 World Junior Championship. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. 5 Maple Leafs' Prospects Flying Under the Radar January 5, 2023 by Peter Baracchini Compared to the other teams in the league the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect pool isn't as strong. Some might consider these sacrifices made by a club that has been a perennial first-round exit for the past six seasons. Sign up for our regular 'Maple Leafs Newsletter' for all the latest. Here is a breakdown of the Maple Leafs prospects at this years tournament: Drafted: 2020 (first round, 15th overall). Ty Voit (#96) tallied another 2 assists over the weekend. They can make a good living and not have to learn a new language or new customs. What Niemelas been able to do in Finland this year is ridiculously impressive for a 19-year-old, and only makes his presence at the World Juniors that much more intriguing. Knies has been taking reps on Team USAs second line alongside 2022 draft eligible prospect Logan Cooley and Florida Panthers prospect Mackie Samoskevich. His combination of size and skill make him an integral part of the team, and theres no doubt in my mind that hell be utilized as such. And hes playing well. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Alan Millar calls Ryan Tverberg (TOR) one of the two most improved players in the Hockey Canada program during the evaluation process this year. Matthew Knies, F How. Related: 2023 Guide to the World Junior Championship. His skills have been on full display for the University of Minnesota so far in 2021-22, and his impressive start should be enough to earn him some proper looks in Team USAs top six. As for the main acquisition, Foligno, he played seven games during the regular season with four assists and four playoff games after suffering an injury. Giving him the fairest chance to make the Maple Leafs is the ultimate goal.. It was really cool.. Akhtyamov is no slouch, though. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. What makes Niemelas role even more important is that he was drafted for the advanced defensive instincts he possessed for his age, which makes his newfound offensive ability that much more of a pleasant surprise. Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League, Bienvenue LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey, Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin, Vlkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida, Vtejte na NHL.com, oficilnch strnkch National Hockey League, Vitajte na NHL.com, oficilnych strnkach National Hockey League, Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League, Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League. 64 pick in 2020 NHL Draft, 2021-22 season: Karpat (Liiga): 48 GP, 10-22-32. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images). World Juniors; Football. Niemela (5-11, 156) was viewed as a defensive defenseman when he was drafted by the Maple Leafs but has developed into a promising offensive force in his subsequent two seasons. "We feel he'll challenge for the roster here.". If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. The club . He beats you offensively and on defence., Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. He also makes weekly appearances on THWs Maple Leafs Lounge Roundtable. It was a draft that saw the Maple Leafs make 12 selections over the seven rounds, including one in each round. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. With the World Junior Championship in the rearview mirror, here's a look at 10 prospects making noise as of late. Steeves was 2nd in the NCAA in primary even-strength points with 20, including 13 of his 15 goals. He is as defensively sound as a teenager can be. Man, oh man, has this kid ever been turning heads at the collegiate level. Like Kokkonen, hes played above his age bracket most of his teenaged career. Related: Maple Leafs Draft Picks That Got Away. The Finns are two-thirds of the Leafs prospect contingent at the world juniors. As I mentioned earlier, Maple Leafs 2020 seventh round pick Ryan Tverberg was among the last cuts for Team Canada, which largely had to do with the emergence of Bedard at selection camp. The Flames used it to take Aidan Thompson with the 90th overall pick and retained 50 percent of Rittichs contract. The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. 84. The Leafs will have six prospects three with Russia and three with Finland competing at the 2021 world junior hockey championship in Edmonton, starting on Dec. 26. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ty Voit certainly looks to be another late-round draft steal; to have a fifth-round pick putting up a projected 121 points (per Elite Prospects) in the OHL certainly speaks to a smart pick. TLN's 2022-23 Midseason Leafs Prospect Rankings: Prospects 10-6. Hes had a good start to the season., Drafted: 2019 (third round, 84th overall). All All Rights Reserved. He was invited to USAs camp in the summer and currently leads the OHL in points with 30 points in 16 games. Whatever the state of affairs within the United States hockey program, its a massive oversight to leave Ty Voit out. Despite winning both contests, its been slightly underwhelming for our pair of Fins after two games: As predicted, Niemela has been a key player for Finland at this tournament so far. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner has extended his home point streak to 19 games - a new franchise record - after assisting in the Auston Matthews goal in the second period of the game . All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. NHL 2022. On April 11, 2021, the Maple Leafs moved their 2021 first-round pick, their 2022 fourth-round pick which they eventually got back and their 2021 fourth-round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Knies, who was a second round pick of the Maple Leafs in 2021, is off to a blazing start in his freshman season with the University of Minnesota where he has 16 points in 18 games to start the season. All three should be interesting to watch at this years World Juniors, not least because its individually each their last shot at the gold. Marat. Who cracks your list? Torontos group of prospects include Matthew Knies, Topi Niemela, Roni Hirvonen, and Ryan Tverberg. Our expectations for him are to make a little bit of a jump. Taking part in a tournament of this magnitude is huge for every junior player. With three players headed to the World Juniors, Toronto Maple Leafs fans arent exactly spoiled for choice in terms of who to focus on, though one name certainly stands out. With such hype around him and the potential for Knies to be a bit of a wildcard addition to the Toronto Maple Leafs line-up as they near the Stanley Cup Playoffs, its understandable to have eyes on him. Today, the top five prospects for the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to NHL.com. Here's this week's look at some of the Toronto Maple Leafs prospects and how they're doing at the major junior level. Also like Niemela, it hasnt resulted in much success on the score sheet. Enter Search Term. He can make some plays. One of the Maple Leafs best forward prospects, Semyon Der-Arguchintsev is a trade candidate leading up to the 2023 deadline. It was awesome to have a good buddy drafted by the same team, and hopefully well get to play there together, said Hirvonen, taken 59th overall in 2020. After missing training camp and the first month and a half of the 2022-23 season, Woll has been incredible with an 8-0-0 record to kick off his season with the Toronto Marlies - tying a franchise record run in the process. The Toronto Maple Leafs 2021 fifth-round (153rd overall) pick has been on fire with the Sarnia Sting this season, with 48 points in 27 games. He needs to continue to work on his skating and mobility. Nothing against him as a player, but Canada chose him over some other more suitable players. Ryan Tverberg is a 2020 seventh-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Also as predicted, Hirvonen has been a key player for Finland as well. Its fair to suggest that the Leafs prospect pool is lacking a star power, but players like knies, Hirvonen and Niemela make it much better than it should be for a team that hasnt picked in the top ten in the last six drafts. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Six is a fairly impressive number. The Toronto Maple Leafs may be on hiatus, but some of their prospects are keeping busy at the World Juniors. All three will be playing pivotal roles for their teams and will look to do the Maple Leafs organization proud. It was in his best interest and the best interest of everybody to give him the best opportunity to make the Toronto Maple Leafs, Lilley said. Hes the captain in Victoriaville this year, which for us is a step in the development department to not only be a good player on your team but then take that next step to be a leader. Marner set the franchise record with a 23-game point streak earlier in the season. Watching Knies game, he has a play style similar to that of former Maple Leafs winger Zach Hyman. Niemela will be defending his title as the top defenseman from last years tournament. With the calendar turning over to 2023 and the World Juniors signaling the unofficial halfway point in the hockey calendar, it's an excellent time to reassess the Leafs' prospect pipeline. And while a strong tournament, as each of the Leafs' prospects are expected to have, doesn't. The Kamloops Blazers centre and 2022 Maple Leafs second-round draft pick recently finished a six-hour bus trip . NHL Prospect Roundup: Toronto Maple Leafs' Joseph Woll is a brick wall. in trade talks for the past few years in Toronto, but given his modified no-trade clause . They selected him with the #213th overall pick in that draft. Who do you agree and disagree with? Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Totals (OHL, RW): 18 GP, 6 G, 32 PTS, 2023 Guide to the World Junior Championship, 3 Takeaways From Rangers 2-1 Shootout Loss to Lightning, Brobergs Impact Making Oilers Trade Deadline Decisions Easier, Montreal Canadiens 2023 Trade Deadline Preview, 3 Potential Trade Destinations for Panthers Sam Bennett, 3 Potential Landing Spots for Red Wings Tyler Bertuzzi, Rangers Adam Fox Eyeing His Second Norris Trophy, Blue Jackets News & Rumors: Jenner, Sillinger & More, 5 Bruins Storylines to Watch in the Second Half of 2022-23, Islanders Sorokin Having a Vezina Trophy-Worthy Season, Bruins News & Rumors: Horvat, Potential Trade Targets & More, NHL Rumors: Senators, Coyotes, Jets, Sharks, Maple Leafs, Devils Could Target Vejmelka as 1B to Vanecek, Oilers Forward Line Predictions When Evander Kane Returns, Remembering an Old Friend: Buffalos Memorial Auditorium, The 8 Best Defensive Forwards in Hockey History, The Day the Mark Messier Era Ended in New York, 6 Takeaways From Devils Dominant 6-2 Victory Over Ducks. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Leading the OHL in goals per game might be enough to at least get him a look. Whats more is that the team only had the one selection in the first four rounds in 2021, which certainly doesnt help the case of having a top-end player from any country when it comes to this best-on-best set-up. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Fast forward to the 2021 NHL Draft and the Maple Leafs had just three selections with only one of those picks coming in the first three rounds. Knies, Niemela, and Robertson all look like they could become regular NHLers someday, and the rest of the prospects I listed certainly dont lack potential. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2022. And one day, they believe, they will play together for Toronto. Hockey Prospect has him . 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Tikkanen is 6-foot and 200 pounds. The 19-year-old's ascension from second-round draft pick to point-a-game player in the NCAA was impressive enough to land him a spot representing the United States at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where he had a goal and an assist in four games. Beyond Matthew Knies, the Leafs only have two other players headed to Edmonton for this summers World Juniors. Its improving all the time., Pennanen sees the NHL in Hirvonens future: Of course it could take some time, but I think he has a chance to reach that level some day.. Fraser Minten drafted 38th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs Leafs Prospects Anthony Petrielli - Jul 8, 2022 A day after trading down, the Leafs have made their first selection in the. And he has improved his game a lot since last year, and especially skating. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onToronto Maple Leafs and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Hirvonen currently has four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 25 games. Russia's forward group is also quite strong up the middle. Notably though, every defensemen ahead of him on that list was older. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ty Voit has somehow been overlooked when it comes to the USA World Juniors camp. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. World Juniors 2020: Breakdown of every NHL teams' prospects | Sporting News Canada MIN DAL 12:00p -154 ANA WIN 12:00p -256 DET CBJ 3:00p SJ BUF 4:00p CHI NYI 4:30p VGS BOS Mon, 4:00p COL PHI Mon,. The Finns. The 2023 NHL Draft eligible prospect just turned 17 and is one of the most electrifying prospects in all of hockey reflected in his consensus No. As good as Akhtyamov has been in the KHL and two lower leagues, hes not expected to get much ice time in the tournament with teammate Yaroslav Askarov seen as the next big thing in goaltending. The team took Matthew Knies in the second round, 57th overall, before selecting Voit at 153rd overall in the fifth round and Vyacheslav Peksa at 185th overall in the sixth round. Kressler may be a long shot to join Team Canada, but hes had a hot start with 8 goals and 12 points in 8 OHL games after starting the season hurt. In both games hes logged over 21:30, logging 22:11 against Austria even though he took two minor penalties. Of the four Toronto Maple Leafs prospects that did get selected, there will be three countries represented. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. [Maple Leafs 32 in 32: Season preview | 3 Questions | Fantasy breakdown] 1. The Leafs, in recent year, have drawn from all over the globe when drafting players, unafraid as some teams are of drafting Russians. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images). But he has had a good start in the KHL with Ufa-based Salavat Yulaev (five goals, three assists). Interestingly, in both comparisons, we likened him to players who were larger. Toronto Maple Leafs After the COVID-19 forced the cancelation of the 2022 World Juniors last winter, the tournament will be restarted on Tuesday in Edmonton, Alberta. As such, perhaps that sort of thinking no longer rings true. (stats from Eliteprospects.com). Alex Hobson is a writer and a radio producer for 610 CKTB. Lilley says: Hes made really good strides. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto . NHL Prospects; World Juniors; Merch Shop; CHL. He would have missed the start of training camp. He does everything on the ice. There would have been another with the. On the other side of the trade, Rittich played just four games for the Maple Leafs going 1-1-1 with a 2.72 goals against average (GAA) and .888 save percentage (SV%). It speaks volumes to a United States program that seems to insist upon being insular and looking specifically for college hockey players as opposed to exploring those options that play in Canada. 1 slot for the 2023 draft. Niemela is a 19-year-old defenseman from Oulu Finland and is currently playing for Karpat in Liiga (Finnish Elite League). "One thing he really elevated was his shot selection and choosing when and where to shoot the puck. He led the Tigers in scoring with 76 points, including 35 goals, in 63 games last year, and has four goals and 10 assists in nine games this season. The Toronto Maple Leafs were one of two teams without any representation at the 2023 World Junior Championship, with the Pittsburgh Penguins being the other. Tverberg currently has nine goals and seven assists for 16 points in 14 games. His OHL lead in scoring had shrunk to 4 points with Pavel Mintyukov on his heels. EDMONTON, AB - JANUARY 02: Elmer Soderblom #25 of Sweden skates against Topi Niemela #7 of Finland during the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship quarterfinals at Rogers Place on January 2, 2021 in Edmonton, Canada. At this years tournament, the Toronto Maple Leafs will have four prospects taking part. The lack of picks, which we will get to in a moment, play a large part in the Maple Leafs not having a representative at the World Juniors in 2023. Perhaps the stand-out of Roni Hirvonens performances is the fact that, per EliteProspects, in 11 games with the Finnish Under 20s team last season, he scored 12 goals and added a further 3 assists for 15 points; statistically that shows through. Padres sign top catching prospect Salas for $5.6M. Hes only scored a single goal so far and no assists but this could change and things are clearly happening when hes on the ice as hes a +6 over the tournament as of now. And if he impresses early on, he could end up being one of Team USAs go-to players. The game airs on ESPN+ and Hulu.Colorado grabbed a 3-2 victory on the road its last time out on January 7 against the Edmonton Oilers.Florida lost 5-1 on the road against the Kokkonen has been regular on Finlands national junior teams since he was 15, playing above his age bracket and appearing in the world juniors last year at 18. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. He plays for HIFK in Liiga this season after spending the previous two seasons playing for Assat. Distribution of this magnitude is huge for every Junior player Leafs not to have any representatives at this World! Hit yet another milestone on Saturday G, 32 PTS in 29 GP round, 84th overall ) tournament be. Good living and not have to earn his ice time represent their country is,... The 18-year-old has five goals, three assists ) five goals, three assists in nine games for in! Get selected to represent their country, How acquired: selected with no in trade talks the. While no Maple Leafs have some notable names in the regular season and ended up heading to the... Enter to do a full site search group is also quite strong up the middle is huge every... The 2022 World Junior Championship his 8th year reporting for the past few years Toronto... The 10 best NHL players from the picks that got Away prospects well. 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