The Toronto Maple Leafs will wrap up their Traverse City prospects tournament on Sunday, facing off against the Detroit Red Wings, beginning at 2pm. Unfortunately, the Leafs will be without the services of two of their top prospects.
There was some concern that Matthew Knies may have suffered an injury after being slashed on the wrist earlier in the tournament. He needed some attention from a team trainer on the bench, but did finish the game and played on Friday as well. Perhaps Knies' absence is simply a precautionary measure for the Leafs with training camp coming up this week.
Meanwhile, Niemela is expected to be a staple on the Marlies' blueline in the AHL, so perhaps the Leafs are simply playing things safe with the Finnish blueliner as well, in hopes of allowing him to enter AHL training camp healthy and ready to go.
