"One thing he really elevated was his shot selection and choosing when and where to shoot the puck. Making his World Juniors debut, Knies opened the scoring in the first period, scoring aone-timer goal on a setup from teammate Logan Cooley. Related: Maple Leafs Draft Picks That Got Away. Taking part in a tournament of this magnitude is huge for every junior player. He has a great shot. With the World Junior Championship in the rearview mirror, here's a look at 10 prospects making noise as of late. Hirvonen is five-foot-nine, an inch shorter than Granlund, but a terrific playmaker with a high hockey IQ. Andrew is in his 8th year reporting for The Hockey Writers covering the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tikkanen is 6-foot and 200 pounds. Also as predicted, Hirvonen has been a key player for Finland as well. 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. 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. That said, the Maple Leafs do have five picks in the upcoming 2023 NHL Draft and have yet to move their first-round pick. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. 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. Another 18-year-old who will have to earn his ice time. 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. Related: 2022 World Junior Championship Team Finland Final Roster. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. 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 more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. 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. . 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. Hes working on his defence. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. This year, Hirvonen will be serving as Finlands captain. 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. "We want to see him elevate his game and really take control from the blue line," Wickenheiser said, "and that's from a defensive standpoint as well in terms of being able to play two ways and be that outstanding defenseman that he was last year. 553 All Rights Reserved. Steeves was 2nd in the NCAA in primary even-strength points with 20, including 13 of his 15 goals. Tverberg currently has nine goals and seven assists for 16 points in 14 games. The Maple Leafs' rebuild is off to a good start following the Mike Babcock hiring. Tverberg getting chosen by Team Canada for the 2022 World Junior Championship was a bit of a surprise. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Niemela is a puck-moving defenceman with three assists in nine games for Karpat in Finlands top league. Prior to the season . 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. Matthew Knies, Left-Wing, Age 20. 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. All three should be interesting to watch at this years World Juniors, not least because its individually each their last shot at the gold. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images). No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Toronto Maple Leafs news fromFanSided Daily, Toronto Maple Leafs Put Streak on the Line vs Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson InjuredAgain. This is a great opportunity to compare him against his peers, the top players in his own age group. 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. If he continues to progress, hell have a better shot at making the team the year. Russia's forward group is also quite strong up the middle. 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. All three of the Leafs' prospects at the 2022 world juniors are likely to play impactful roles. 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. Toronto Maple Leafs: What Is Nick Robertson's Role Next Season? Topi Niemela - Finland - The Finnish born defenseman was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs 64th overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. We create the lists without any biases toward country or nationality. Prospect Pool Overview: Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs have some notable names in the prospect pipeline. He has a very nice shot to go along with some sneaky speed for his size, and a solid physical game as well. He competed (in the world juniors) last year. NHL Prospects; World Juniors; Merch Shop; CHL. Lilley says: Hes a steady guy. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images). Toronto's group of prospects include Matthew Knies, Topi. Knies will be representing Team USA at the World Junior Championship. . But theres still time for that to change. Fraser Minten was a late cut from last summers makeup tournament after getting an invite to Canadas camp. And hes playing well. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about 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. Like Kokkonen, hes played above his age bracket most of his teenaged career. Nice addition to the organization, Roni Hirvonens last-minute heroics send through to the #WorldJuniors semifinals. 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. 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. rights reserved. Hirvonen has had a great season to date with HIFK of Finlands SM-Liiga, with 18 points through 26 games thus far. 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. The Flames used it to take Aidan Thompson with the 90th overall pick and retained 50 percent of Rittichs contract. Last year, the Toronto Maple Leafs saw prospects Matthew Knies suit up for Team USA and Roni Hirvonen and Topi Niemela play for Finland. TORONTO Mitch Marner hit yet another milestone on Saturday. His 56-save effort against Laval on Sunday was also among the best save counts in franchise history. 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. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images). 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. I think he has also improved his skill since last season, especially his pro athlete mindset.. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. 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. The 10 Best NHL Players From the 2013 World Juniors Noesen played just one game for the Maple Leafs in the regular season and ended up heading to Carolina the following season. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. 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. Alex Hobson is a writer and a radio producer for 610 CKTB. Hes good defensively. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. by He was invited to USAs camp in the summer and currently leads the OHL in points with 30 points in 16 games. There have been some standout performances by players throughout the system and . And if he impresses early on, he could end up being one of Team USAs go-to players. 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. 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. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. Hirvonen currently has four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 25 games. Perhaps it speaks less to Voits amazing form and more so to an inability to look beyond their borders for players. Nothing against him as a player, but Canada chose him over some other more suitable players. 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. Lilley says: Our expectations for him is were hoping he has a prominent role in the Russian team. He plays for HIFK in Liiga this season after spending the previous two seasons playing for Assat. But the Leafs havent drafted a Canadian in the first round since taking Marner fourth overall in 2015. Those two names will both be appearing for Finland, both likely in high-profile roles, with Topi Niemel likely one of their top-pairing defensemen and Roni Hirvonen likely to be on the wing in the top-six as they open against Latvia. Good skater. Topi Niemela got drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round of the 2020 NHL draft. 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. in trade talks for the past few years in Toronto, but given his modified no-trade clause . Niemela is a 19-year-old defenseman from Oulu Finland and is currently playing for Karpat in Liiga (Finnish Elite League). 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. Toronto will have prospects representing Team Canada, Team USA, and Team Finland at this year's World Junior Championship. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. 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. Artur Akhtyamov (G) entered this season as arguably the Leafs' top goalie prospect, but his season has been up and down. 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,. 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. 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. Finland's Roni Hirvonen (22) is stopped by Latvia goalie Bruno Bruveris (30) in a world juniors game Tuesday. 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}. MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JULY 08: Fraser Minten is selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs during Round Two of the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bell Centre on July 08, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Hockey Prospect has him . 72. 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. The playmaking center, who was the MVP of the SHL Playoffs in 2021 with 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 14 games, joined Toronto of the AHL at the end of the 2021-22 season and had four points (two goals, two assists) in six games, impressing Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas in the process. (Statistics as of. 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. The Toronto Maple Leafs will be keeping a close eye on their four prospects and hoping to see great things. "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. And one day, they believe, they will play together for Toronto. [Maple Leafs 32 in 32: Season preview | 3 Questions | Fantasy breakdown] 1. Here is a look at each of those four prospects. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. Related: 2023 Guide to the World Junior Championship. ", How acquired: Selected with No. Theyre both skilful and they can make plays, Pennanen said. Expect him to slot right back into his role on Finlands top line and improve on last years tournament. Team USA will play Slovakia on the first night (December 26th) of the tournament at 9:30 pm ET. Torontos group of prospects include Matthew Knies, Topi Niemela, Roni Hirvonen, and Ryan Tverberg. 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. 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. But on top of the tenacity and physical play Hyman has, Knies also has a very good shot. 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 . 159 pick in 2018 NHL Draft, 2021-22 season: Vaxjo (SHL): 46 GP, 11-30-41; Toronto (AHL): 6 GP, 2-2-4. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ty Voit has somehow been overlooked when it comes to the USA World Juniors camp. EDMONTONIt would seem Maple Leafs prospects Roni Hirvonen and Topi Niemel are inseparable. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Alex Hobson is a writer and a radio producer for 610 CKTB. 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. Relatively unknown to the Leafs fan base, Amirov was a surprise pick. 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. 648 This is the most exciting time of the year for everyone that loves hockey.. All Rights Reserved. [Maple Leafs 32 in 32: Season preview | 3 Questions | Fantasy breakdown], How acquired: Selected with No. Knies had three points in five games. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. Every Junior player by Team Canada for the 2022 World juniors ) last year your non-commercial... 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