Giving him the fairest chance to make the Maple Leafs is the ultimate goal.. 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 Maple Leafs prospect Ty Voit has somehow been overlooked when it comes to the USA World Juniors camp. This is the player with the most assists in the whole of the CHL, not just the OHL. 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. Its the luck of the draw. Tverberg is a dual citizen, and many thought he had a better shot of making the Team USA roster than he did the Team Canada one. 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. Who do you agree and disagree with? Jan 10, 2023. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. The Leafs prospect is a standout skater and transition player whose two-way game helps his team on the penalty kill. 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. Again, this could easily change over the coming games and for the Finnish teams fortunes, lets hope it does. Tony Ferrari takes a deep look at what the team's future looks. Fantasy; Betting; Shows; Schedule; Player News; Starting Goalies; Line Combos; Ad. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. rights reserved. Where were they traded and when for the Maple Leafs not to have any representatives at this years World Junior Championship? He can make some plays. What do you think of my list? For interview requests or any other inquiries, you can follow Alexs social media pages listed at the bottom of his articles like this one. But on top of the tenacity and physical play Hyman has, Knies also has a very good shot. Credit: Photo by Steven Ellis . For interview requests or any other inquiries, you can follow Alexs social media pages listed at the bottom of his articles like this one. Notably though, every defensemen ahead of him on that list was older. EDMONTON, AB - DECEMBER 30: Topi Niemela #7, Roni Hirvonen #22, Anton Lundell #15 and Kasper Simontaival #29 of Finland celebrate a goal against Slovakia during the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on December 30, 2020 in Edmonton, Canada. The organizations 2020 NHL Draft may have been their last major haul. 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. 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. This is a great opportunity to compare him against his peers, the top players in his own age group. Absolutely, Ty Voit is undersized and may never be a regular NHL player with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a result. Matthew Knies is a 2021 second-round pick of the Leafs selected #57th overall in that draft. Marner set the franchise record with a 23-game point streak earlier in the season. Hes had a good start to the season., Drafted: 2019 (third round, 84th overall). He has been writing about sports since 2015 and has been with The Hockey Writers since October of 2020. He has a very nice shot to go along with some sneaky speed for his size, and a solid physical game as well. Toronto will have prospects representing Team Canada, Team USA, and Team Finland at this year's World Junior Championship. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. The hockey world wasn't exactly taken by Zdeno Chara early in his career, either. He was undrafted but signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs as an 18 year old after the 2021 NHL draft. 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. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images). Today, the top five prospects for the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to NHL.com. 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. (Hirvonen) can be good on the power player and everything else. Hes also second among defenseman in scoring, only two points behind the highest-scoring defenseman. All three should be interesting to watch at this years World Juniors, not least because its individually each their last shot at the gold. 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. 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. Knies will be representing Team USA at the World Junior Championship. 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. This is the most exciting time of the year for everyone that loves hockey.. 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. Tikkanen is 6-foot and 200 pounds. In both games hes logged over 21:30, logging 22:11 against Austria even though he took two minor penalties. Tverberg getting chosen by Team Canada for the 2022 World Junior Championship was a bit of a surprise. The Toronto Maple Leafs 2021 fifth-round (153rd overall) pick has. Finland's Roni Hirvonen (22) is stopped by Latvia goalie Bruno Bruveris (30) in a world juniors game Tuesday. 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. 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. The roster. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. But theres still time for that to change. 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. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Sign up for our regular 'Maple Leafs Newsletter' for all the latest. Watching Knies game, he has a play style similar to that of former Maple Leafs winger Zach Hyman. 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. He has been writing about sports since 2015 and has been with The Hockey Writers since October of 2020. 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. All Rights Reserved. He is as defensively sound as a teenager can be. Topi Niemela - Finland - The Finnish born defenseman was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs 64th overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Lets also hope this doesnt effect any other team at the tournament either. He scored twice, tops among Finnish blueliners. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Niemel was drafted 64th overall. He went on to play 15:17 in the 3-2 win over Slovakia. 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. 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Another 18-year-old who will have to earn his ice time. 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. 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. 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. Finland will have its sights set on Gold this year. Here is a breakdown of the Maple Leafs prospects at this years tournament: Drafted: 2020 (first round, 15th overall). He beats you offensively and on defence., Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. Lilley says: Its a 19-year-olds tournament. Some might consider these sacrifices made by a club that has been a perennial first-round exit for the past six seasons. If he continues to progress, hell have a better shot at making the team the year. 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}. Who cracks your list? Hes working on his defence. 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. 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. He's played primarily in the VHL for Ak Bars, where he has a .910 sv% in. I also predicted big performances from all three. 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. 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. 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. One of the reasons he was selected is his productive season at the University of Connecticut in the NCAA. 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 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. OHL; QMJHL; WHL . He has five goals and 17 assists for 22 points in 25 games so far this season. However, plenty of smaller players are now proving more than competent in the NHL. Heres a look at the sacrifices made. Theyve known each other since they were kids. 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. The 19-year-old is having a good season in the NCAA for the University of Minnesota. In the last Toronto Maple Leafs Draft Watch, we took a look at Juuso Valimaki. Knies has been taking reps on Team USAs second line alongside 2022 draft eligible prospect Logan Cooley and Florida Panthers prospect Mackie Samoskevich. He definitely deserves an invite to camp, but if he doesnt make the team this year, hes eligible for the 2024 tournament as well. Making his World Juniors debut, Knies opened the scoring in the first period, scoring aone-timer goal on a setup from teammate Logan Cooley. 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. Here are the top 10 NHL players to come out of the tournament that was won by Team USA 10 years ago. Jan 2, 2021 The 18-year-old has five goals and four assists in 21 games for Assat in Finlands top league. Just five picks before the Maple Leafs selected Niemela. ", How acquired: Selected with No. Related: 2022 World Junior Championship Team Finland Final Roster. What gives Maple Leafs management reason for optimism was the point-per-game pace he put together in the AHL upon his return. The World Juniors provides a sneak peek at the next crop of potential NHL stars. . Torontos group of prospects include Matthew Knies, Topi Niemela, Roni Hirvonen, and Ryan Tverberg. Follow on Twitter. Kind of a good all-around player., Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. Topi Niemela got drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round of the 2020 NHL draft. 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. Knies had three points in five games. Go To Comments. Hes got really good offensive instincts., Drafted: 2020 (fourth round, 106th overall). He also makes weekly appearances on THWs Maple Leafs Lounge Roundtable. This season he is an integral part of the Finland National World Junior U20 team battling for gold in Red Deer, Alberta. Nikita Korostolev 11-2-16 | KIT @ SAR | 1G 0A 1P | -1 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. Interestingly, in both comparisons, we likened him to players who were larger. 553 (Statistics as of. Difficult cuts. 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. 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. 72. So, How have things been so far? 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. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. The Kamloops Blazers centre and 2022 Maple Leafs second-round draft pick recently finished a six-hour bus trip . . The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to be represented well at the 2022 World Junior Championship. Mike Zeisberger, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. The Finns. He's putting up nearly a point a game in the minors and showed well . in trade talks for the past few years in Toronto, but given his modified no-trade clause . Matthew Knies out of the University of Minnesota gets the ball rolling as Toronto's first untouchable prospect. 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. Roni Hirvonen is a 2020 second-round pick. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. "Physically, he is very imposing. NHL Prospects; World Juniors; Merch Shop; CHL. It was a draft that saw the Maple Leafs make 12 selections over the seven rounds, including one in each round. Team USA will play Slovakia on the first night (December 26th) of the tournament at 9:30 pm ET. And with fans expected to be back in the buildings, this years festivities will be extra fun to keep tabs on.Team CanadaPlayers to WatchRosterTeam USAPlayers to WatchRosterTeam AustriaPlayers to WatchRosterTeam CzechiaPlayers to WatchRosterTeam FinlandPlayers to WatchRosterTeam GermanyPlayers to WatchRosterTeam LatviaRosterTeam SlovakiaRosterTeam SwedenPlayers to WatchRosterTeam SwitzerlandPlayers to WatchRoster, Guide to the 2022 World Junior Championship, 2022 World Juniors Schedule, Groups, Rosters, Predictions & More, Predictions for the 2022 World Junior Championship, 2022 World Juniors: 2023 Draft-Eligible Players to Watch, 6 Predictions for the 2022 World Junior Championship. Get a bit more ice time than he did last year, and take on a leadership role. FINLAND PULLS AHEAD! 57 pick in 2021 NHL Draft, 2021-22 season: University of Minnesota (NCAA): 33 GP, 15-18-33. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. And he has improved his game a lot since last year, and especially skating. Knies is being viewed as a future top-six power forward, though it still remains to be seen when he eventually leaves college hockey behind whether he can stand-out in the NHL. We look forward to seeing him in this tournament. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. Hes 18 but I think he should be another guy that plays a pretty prominent role on their team. 1 slot for the 2023 draft. While a majority of. 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. The Maple Leafs drafted him as an overage prospect in 2019, and he immediately had a breakout season for Harvard in 2019-20 before the season was canceled due to COVID-19. Matthew Knies was expected to. 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. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onToronto Maple Leafs and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Tverberg currently has nine goals and seven assists for 16 points in 14 games. Niemel picked up an assist in Mondays loss to Canada, his fourth of the tournament. While no Maple Leafs prospects will be representing Team Canada this year, they will have some representation in North America. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; The first major move of the Toronto Maple Leafs . 4-4. 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. Team Finland will play Germany in the tournaments first game on December 26th at 2 pm ET. 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. 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. Ty Voit (#96) tallied another 2 assists over the weekend. 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. The move was to acquire Nick Foligno and Stefan Noesen for a run in the playoffs. Artur Akhtyamov (G) entered this season as arguably the Leafs' top goalie prospect, but his season has been up and down. 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). 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. I think hell earn ice time., Drafted: 2020 (third round, 64th overall). Steven Ellis. 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. 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. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. 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. Lilley says: Hes a steady guy. NHL.com is providing in-depth prospect analysis for each of its 32 teams from August 8-September 8. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Here's a look at the prospects and young players the Maple Leafs could offer in a trade deadline swap. World Juniors; Football. Niemela is one of two Toronto prospects representing Team Finland at the World Junior Championship. Hirvonen currently has four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 25 games. 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. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. 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. 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. Toronto Maple Leafs 153rd overall selection, Forward Ty Voit #96 of the Sarnia Sting (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images). "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. This past year, the Maple Leafs rebounded with five selections over the seven-round draft. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. EDMONTONIt would seem Maple Leafs prospects Roni Hirvonen and Topi Niemel are inseparable. Niemela will be defending his title as the top defenseman from last years tournament. Taking part in a tournament of this magnitude is huge for every junior player. NHL Prospect Roundup: Toronto Maple Leafs' Joseph Woll is a brick wall. Hirvonen will be joining Niemela on Team Finland at the 2022 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. 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. Of the four Toronto Maple Leafs prospects that did get selected, there will be three countries represented. These were the players we came up with. 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. 59 pick in 2020 NHL Draft, 2021-22 season: HIFK (Liiga): 46 GP, 9-17-26. Ty Voit probably has the best chance of any Leafs prospect at playing in this years World Juniors. [Maple Leafs 32 in 32: Season preview | 3 Questions | Fantasy breakdown], How acquired: Selected with No. Republication or distribution of this content is And hes playing well. 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. He provides analysis on the top draft-eligible players, prospects drafted by NHL teams and all other relevant prospect information. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. 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. Lilley says: Hes playing in three different leagues, but quite frankly hes doing his part in stopping the puck. Some players will enjoy great careers, while other highly-touted prospects will fail to meet the lofty expectations. ", How acquired: Selected with No. 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. He competed (in the world juniors) last year. 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. 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. 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. #Leafs #LeafsForever, Maple Leafs Acquire Matt Murray & Draft Picks For Future Considerations, Maple Leafs Commentary: Matt Murray, Goalie Solution or Mrazek Mistake. 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. 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. 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. Here is a look at each of those four prospects. However, lets recap Knies performance so far. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto 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. He makes a good first pass and jump into the play. 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. 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. 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. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the. Like Kokkonen, hes played above his age bracket most of his teenaged career. But he has had a good start in the KHL with Ufa-based Salavat Yulaev (five goals, three assists). The Finns are two-thirds of the Leafs prospect contingent at the world juniors. With 25-man rosters for. 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. Were excited for him. 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. Whatever the state of affairs within the United States hockey program, its a massive oversight to leave Ty Voit out. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution Quite frankly, Im happy with our group.. I think he has also improved his skill since last season, especially his pro athlete mindset.. Hes a 19-year-old playing in one of the top leagues in the world. "One thing he really elevated was his shot selection and choosing when and where to shoot the puck. 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%). If you care about the players who will one day wear the Maple Leafs jersey, youll be keeping track of Finland and Russia. 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. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. But given his style of play, I think hes capable of handling it. 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. They were drafted five picks apart in 2020. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about He also had three assists for the U.S. in the 2022 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in August. The Finnish national team picked. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Braeden Kressler is an interesting prospect. He currently has seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in 16 games. Beyond Matthew Knies, the Leafs only have two other players headed to Edmonton for this summers World Juniors. 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. American Matt Knies is the other. Enter Search Term. Good skater. They selected him with the #64th overall pick. Regardless of which team he is playing for, just playing in the tournament will be an incredible experience for him. 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. All three of the Leafs' prospects at the 2022 world juniors are likely to play impactful roles. 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 Maple Leafs' rebuild is off to a good start following the Mike Babcock hiring. Finland coach Antti Pennanen said the comparison is warranted. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Marner, selected Thursday to the NHL All-Star . . 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). permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. 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. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. 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. Firstly, the Maple Leafs were so close to having a prospect in the tournament had Voit been considered for the U.S. team. 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. 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. Whether drafted or undrafted, it is a great opportunity to showcase their talent. He had six points in seven games at last years tournament and helped Finland beat Russia in the Bronze Medal game. 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. 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 . Hes the former play-by-play voice of the London Jr. Knights for Rogers TV and currently hosts the Sticks in the 6ix podcast. This year, Hirvonen will be serving as Finlands captain. 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 "We want him to dominate every time he steps on the ice," said Hayley Wickenheiser, the Maple Leafs assistant general manager of player development. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. 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. They grabbed notable names like Rodion Amirov in the first round, Roni Hirvonen in the second round and Topi Niemel in the third round. Finally,Niemel is probably the hardest to predict. Alan Millar calls Ryan Tverberg (TOR) one of the two most improved players in the Hockey Canada program during the evaluation process this year. It was a really good experience, Hirvonen said. Nothing against him as a player, but Canada chose him over some other more suitable players. 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 Americans finished undefeated in their group after they hung on . 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. 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. If you care about the team with the maple leaf on its jersey, youll be watching Canada at the world junior hockey tournament. Through two games, Hirvonen hasnt scored a goal and only has one assist to show for his effort. 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. With many players aging out from the 2022 tournament, he will have a good shot at making it this year. 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. 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. As I wrote about the other day, the Toronto Maple Leafs have three. The Leafs, in recent year, have drawn from all over the globe when drafting players, unafraid as some teams are of drafting Russians. They can make a good living and not have to learn a new language or new customs. 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 Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers hit the ice in NHL play at Ball Arena on Tuesday, January 10 at 9:30 PM ET. All Rights Reserved. Four of the six Maple Leafs prospects competing at the 2021 World Junior Championship were in action on Christmas, kicking off the tournament in Edmonton. The Toronto Maple Leafs may be on hiatus, but some of their prospects are keeping busy at the World Juniors. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Also as predicted, Hirvonen has been a key player for Finland as well. I hope all of the Leafs prospects do well in the tournament. I. Toronto has 11 prospects eligible to be in the tournament this year, but only the best get selected to represent their country. Perhaps it speaks less to Voits amazing form and more so to an inability to look beyond their borders for players. 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. He has offensive instincts that should land him on the power play. 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. Ryan Tverberg is a 2020 seventh-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Today, the top five prospects for the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to NHL.com. 53 pick in 2019 NHL Draft, 2021-22 season: Toronto (AHL): 28 GP, 16-12-28; Toronto (NHL): 10 GP, 1-0-1. 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. 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. . To order Hockey Prospect has him . Topi Niemela (TOR) scores his first goal of the tournament. 64 pick in 2020 NHL Draft, 2021-22 season: Karpat (Liiga): 48 GP, 10-22-32. There have been some standout performances by players throughout the system and . Hirvonen is a centre, unafraid to compare his game to that of Mikael Granlund, a 10-year NHLer with Minnesota and Nashville. "He played exceptionally well for them," Dubas said of Holmberg's brief AHL stint. 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.
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