72. 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. Its the luck of the draw. Like Kokkonen, hes played above his age bracket most of his teenaged career. 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. Go To Comments. Lilley says: Hes a steady guy. 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. He was invited to USAs camp in the summer and currently leads the OHL in points with 30 points in 16 games. To order The Leafs have typically not contributed a great deal of Canadian prospects, largely because they havent drafted that many, and prospect-rich Canada tends to draw from first-round picks. 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. 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. While a majority of. 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. Nice addition to the organization, Roni Hirvonens last-minute heroics send through to the #WorldJuniors semifinals. Kind of a good all-around player., Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. 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. He went on to play 15:17 in the 3-2 win over Slovakia. 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 . PHILADELPHIA (AP) John Tavares had a goal and two assists, Mitchell Marner added three assists and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Philadelphia Flyers 6-2 on Sunday night. 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 Leave a comment below and let me know. 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. Braeden Kressler is an interesting prospect. Matthew Knies (TOR) ties the game with a wicked snipe with nine seconds left in the third period. It was a really good experience, Hirvonen said. If he continues to progress, hell have a better shot at making the team the year. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. Maple Leafs Commentary: Will Dubas Target Darcy Kuemper? 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. He has a great shot. Absolutely, Ty Voit is undersized and may never be a regular NHL player with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a result. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. 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. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Tore it up with Notre Dame this year with 15 G, 32 PTS in 29 GP. Niemela is one of two Toronto prospects representing Team Finland at the World Junior Championship. 57 pick in 2021 NHL Draft, 2021-22 season: University of Minnesota (NCAA): 33 GP, 15-18-33. Lets also hope this doesnt effect any other team at the tournament either. Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects Will Play Big Roles at 2022 World Juniors Maple Leafs Prospects Will Play Big Roles at 2022 World Juniors December 14, 2021 by Alex Hobson As we move. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onToronto Maple Leafs and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Matthew Knies was expected to. (Stats from eliteprospects.com). Were excited for him. 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. Additionally, he was able to notch roughly a point every second game in the Finnish Liiga also; again despite playing against much older competition. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about 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. Giving him the fairest chance to make the Maple Leafs is the ultimate goal.. The Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers hit the ice in NHL play at Ball Arena on Tuesday, January 10 at 9:30 PM ET. The 19-year-old is having a good season in the NCAA for the University of Minnesota. Again, this could easily change over the coming games and for the Finnish teams fortunes, lets hope it does. 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. 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. 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. We create the lists without any biases toward country or nationality. rights reserved. Steven Ellis. 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. 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. 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. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Topi Niemela has his first point at the 2022 World Junior Championship when he and fellow Leafs prospect Roni Hirvonen assisted on Aatu Raty's goal in the third period . Fraser Minten is staring out the window of a Sandman Hotel in Prince George, B.C. EDMONTONIt would seem Maple Leafs prospects Roni Hirvonen and Topi Niemel are inseparable. Matthew Knies, Left-Wing, Age 20. And while a strong tournament, as each of the Leafs' prospects are expected to have, doesn't. I think hell earn ice time., Drafted: 2020 (third round, 64th overall). Making his World Juniors debut, Knies opened the scoring in the first period, scoring aone-timer goal on a setup from teammate Logan Cooley. NHL Prospects; World Juniors; Merch Shop; CHL. Take a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs prospects that are representing their respective nations at the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championship in Montreal and Toronto. With many players aging out from the 2022 tournament, he will have a good shot at making it this year. This season he is an integral part of the Finland National World Junior U20 team battling for gold in Red Deer, Alberta. Jul 31, 2021 NHL.com is providing in-depth prospect analysis for each of its 32 teams from August 8-September 8. Toronto Maple Leafs 153rd overall selection, Forward Ty Voit #96 of the Sarnia Sting (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images). 553 Hes also second among defenseman in scoring, only two points behind the highest-scoring defenseman. Also like Niemela, it hasnt resulted in much success on the score sheet. Steeves was 2nd in the NCAA in primary even-strength points with 20, including 13 of his 15 goals. 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. 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. 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. In the last Toronto Maple Leafs Draft Watch, we took a look at Juuso Valimaki. 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. The 18-year-old has five goals and four assists in 21 games for Assat in Finlands top league. Recently named captain of the Victoriaville Tigres of the QMJHL, Abramov has matured as both a scorer and a leader. 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. The Toronto Maple Leafs may be on hiatus, but some of their prospects are keeping busy at the World Juniors. The Leafs didnt draft any Canadians among their six picks in 2019, and only two of their 12 picks from 2020 were Canadian. The Toronto Maple Leafs will be keeping a close eye on their four prospects and hoping to see great things. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the. Niemela will be defending his title as the top defenseman from last years tournament. Toronto Maple Leafs: Will Any of These Marlies Make the Jump. 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. 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. Hirvonen is five-foot-nine, an inch shorter than Granlund, but a terrific playmaker with a high hockey IQ. Here are some 2020/21 highlights from the newest #Leafs prospect, Alex Steeves 84. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. With the World Junior Championship in the rearview mirror, here's a look at 10 prospects making noise as of late. Tony Ferrari takes a deep look at what the team's future looks. [Maple Leafs 32 in 32: Season preview | 3 Questions | Fantasy breakdown], How acquired: Selected with No. 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. 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. The Flames used it to take Aidan Thompson with the 90th overall pick and retained 50 percent of Rittichs contract. Prospect Pool Overview: Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs have some notable names in the prospect pipeline. This is the player with the most assists in the whole of the CHL, not just the OHL. He also makes weekly appearances on THWs Maple Leafs Lounge Roundtable. 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%). The 10 Best NHL Players From the 2013 World Juniors Hirvonen is a centre, unafraid to compare his game to that of Mikael Granlund, a 10-year NHLer with Minnesota and Nashville. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onToronto Maple Leafs and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. "He played exceptionally well for them," Dubas said of Holmberg's brief AHL stint. 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. He would have missed the start of training camp. Knies will be representing Team USA at the World Junior Championship. 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. Topi Niemela (TOR) scores his first goal of the tournament. Marner set the franchise record with a 23-game point streak earlier in the season. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ty Voit has somehow been overlooked when it comes to the USA World Juniors camp. 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. The 20-year-old's 2021-22 season was derailed early when he sustained a non-displaced fracture of his right fibula in the second game of the AHL season and was out for four months. 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. So the Maple Leafs learned a harsh lesson on Saturday night. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. That said, the Maple Leafs do have five picks in the upcoming 2023 NHL Draft and have yet to move their first-round pick. Hes working on his defence. Lilley says: Our expectations for him is were hoping he has a prominent role in the Russian team. 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}. 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. 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. But he has had a good start in the KHL with Ufa-based Salavat Yulaev (five goals, three assists). Roni Hirvonen is a 2020 second-round pick. Knies announced in April he'll be returning to the University of Minnesota, a decision the Maple Leafs fully support. 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. If you care about the players who will one day wear the Maple Leafs jersey, youll be keeping track of Finland and Russia. For interview requests or any other inquiries, you can follow Alexs social media pages listed at the bottom of his articles like this one. World Juniors; Hockey Canada; Olympics; Euro; . All ", Video: VAN@TOR: Robertson fires home a Nylander feed on rush, How acquired: Selected with No. Hirvonen has two goals and four assists on the top line with Islanders prospect Aatu Rty and Joakim Kemell, drafted 17th by the Nashville Predators this year. Lilley says: He just doesnt make a lot of mistakes. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Was Lou Lamoriello as Good as Maple Leafs Fans Remember? 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. To order And Hirvonen is captain of the Finnish entry at the world junior hockey championship, while Niemel is an alternate captain. 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. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. 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. Heres a look at the sacrifices made. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. . The Toronto Maple Leafs 2021 fifth-round (153rd overall) pick has. Hockey Prospect has him . 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. He scored twice, tops among Finnish blueliners. Alex Hobson is a writer and a radio producer for 610 CKTB. Russia's forward group is also quite strong up the middle. Follow on Twitter. Now, theres a number of ways of looking at this, especially after the Americans left OHL star Ty Voit off their final roster. He makes a good first pass and jump into the play. The Kamloops Blazers centre and 2022 Maple Leafs second-round draft pick recently finished a six-hour bus trip . 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. 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. While no Maple Leafs prospects will be representing Team Canada this year, they will have some representation in North America. Fraser Minten was a late cut from last summers makeup tournament after getting an invite to Canadas camp. Toronto has 11 prospects eligible to be in the tournament this year, but only the best get selected to represent their country. Despite his outstanding production at the junior level, he was unable to earn a legitimate look in the KHL until this season. What do you think of my list? 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. Republication or distribution of this content is Hirvonen will be joining Niemela on Team Finland at the 2022 World Junior Championship. OHL; QMJHL; WHL . Finland's Roni Hirvonen (22) is stopped by Latvia goalie Bruno Bruveris (30) in a world juniors game Tuesday. Montreal Alouettes; CFL; NFL; . Watching Knies game, he has a play style similar to that of former Maple Leafs winger Zach Hyman. The 2023 edition of the World Junior U20 Championship to this point has gone off without a hitch that is, aside from the handful of upsets that have seemingly overtaken the group stages early on. The Finnish national team picked. Thanks . And. So, How have things been so far? 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. 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. 648 Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. However, lets recap Knies performance so far. 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. The Finnish captain had a goal . No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Who cracks your list? (Statistics as of. At this years tournament, the Toronto Maple Leafs will have four prospects taking part. The Leafs prospect is a standout skater and transition player whose two-way game helps his team on the penalty kill. 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. 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. 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. The fact he was picked in the second round back at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft points to the Toronto Maple Leafs seeing something in him. Ryan Tverberg is a 2020 seventh-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images). 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. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to be represented well at the 2022 World Junior Championship. Hes 18 but I think he should be another guy that plays a pretty prominent role on their team. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; The first major move of the Toronto Maple Leafs . He can make some plays. Noesen played just one game for the Maple Leafs in the regular season and ended up heading to Carolina the following season. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images). All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. Team USA will be looking to defend their Gold Medal from last year. Its telling that the Team USA roster has all but completely shunned the CHL (only 2 call-ups play in the CHL). Notably though, every defensemen ahead of him on that list was older. 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. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. 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. This past year, the Maple Leafs rebounded with five selections over the seven-round draft. A prospect could go from a projected third-round pick to a second-round selection. Nothing against him as a player, but Canada chose him over some other more suitable players. 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. 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. Our expectations for him are to make a little bit of a jump. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. Another 18-year-old who will have to earn his ice time. Sign up for our regular 'Maple Leafs Newsletter' for all the latest. All Rights Reserved. Toronto Maple Leafs news fromFanSided Daily, Toronto Maple Leafs Put Streak on the Line vs Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson InjuredAgain. rights reserved. "We want him to dominate every time he steps on the ice," said Hayley Wickenheiser, the Maple Leafs assistant general manager of player development. Difficult cuts. 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. Nick Robertson will not be returning to the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. 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. 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. 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. Nikita Korostolev 11-2-16 | KIT @ SAR | 1G 0A 1P | -1 I also predicted big performances from all three. 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. 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. Lightning. Prior to the season . 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. Somehow though, the Pittsburgh-born youngster hasnt been given the chance to help the United States in their quest for World Juniors gold. 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 Breaking ankles, scoring goals.Typical Saturday night for @Matthew_Knies pic.twitter.com/3jEZtTDXLl. 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. 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. 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. Despite only having three prospects at the World Juniors this year, all three players I mentioned will be worth keeping an eye on as the tournament gets underway in Edmonton and Red Deer. 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. Hes a smart player, hes got excellent speed. 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. Beyond Matthew Knies, the Leafs only have two other players headed to Edmonton for this summers World Juniors. He needs more strength. (stats from Eliteprospects.com). For starters, the 2021-22 campaign saw the Phoenix, Arizona native suit up for Team USA at the 2022 World Junior Hockey . Hes the former play-by-play voice of the London Jr. Knights for Rogers TV and currently hosts the Sticks in the 6ix podcast. Interestingly, in both comparisons, we likened him to players who were larger. 4-4. If theres any prospect Maple Leafs fans are going to be watching closely this year, its Niemela. Mike Zeisberger, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. (Hirvonen) can be good on the power player and everything else. This year, Hirvonen will be serving as Finlands captain.