24-Year-Old Defenseman Reportedly Leaving the Maple Leafs in Favour of Another Opportunity
Photo credit: Rick Osentoski | Imagn Images
The Maple Leafs have lost a handful of AHL players to European leagues so far this summer and a 24-year-old defenseman is reportedly joining the growing list.
Beginning at the end of the regular season in April, the Leafs began to lose players to European teams and leagues when Zach Solow, Joseph Blandisi, and Nicolas Mattinen signed deals overseas.
While their departures open up opportunities for new players and prospects, the Leafs are now set to lose another player -- this time a 24-year-old defensive prospect.
Logjam on the Maple Leafs' Blueline Forcing Mikko Kokkonen Out
According to Mattias Persson of 'The Hockey News Sweden', Mikko Kokkonen is set to depart Toronto and join Linkoping of the Swedish Hockey League.
For Kokkonen, who was a third-round pick of the Leafs in 2019, the move was expected after the Leafs failed to tender him a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.
With 10 defensemen on the Toronto Marlies roster for next season, and Kokkonen being a draft pick of the Kyle Dubas regime, his playing time was slowly getting reduced as he skated in just 50 games last season after playing in 65 the season before.
It's unfortunate that the Leafs and Kokkonen couldn't find a solution, as many believe he has the potential to be a bottom pairing NHL defenseman. However, the departure of the Finnish native will open up more opportunities for the likes of Ben Danford, John Prokop, Noah Chadwick and Blake Smith to further their development.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 11 | 1163 ANSWERS 24-Year-Old Defenseman Reportedly Leaving the Maple Leafs in Favour of Another Opportunity Do you think Mikko Kokkonen could be a serviceable NHL defenseman? | ||
| From what I've seen, possibly | 226 | 19.4 % |
| Not on the Leafs, but maybe somewhere else | 558 | 48 % |
| No | 269 | 23.1 % |
| Yes | 110 | 9.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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