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Pair of Prospects Torching European Leagues After Leaving Maple Leafs
Photo credit: David Kirouac Imagn Images
Not happy with their place on the depth chart in Toronto, a pair of Leaf prospects returned to Europe, where they are currently torching their leagues and giving the Leafs something to think about.
Under GM Brad Treliving, the Leafs significantly turned over their prospect pool. For the most part, many of the draft picks made under the former Kyle Dubas regime are gone, as they didn't fit the Leafs' new direction as they continue to get bigger and stronger.
Once Top Prospects in the Leafs' Organization, Two Former Leafs Prospects Are Currently Dominating European Leagues
Drafted in the second and third rounds of the 2020 entry draft, Topi Niemela was once a very promising puck-moving defenceman and considered to be a top defensive prospect in the Leafs' organization.
Unfortunately, the 6'0, 180-pound Finnish native found himself slide fairly far down the depth chart last season with the Toronto Marlies, and chose to head overseas in late June for this year. Joining Malmo in the Swedish Hockey League, Niemela has 4 points in 5 games to begin the year.
However, it is his former Marlies teammate Roni Hirvonen that has caught the eye of many. Hirvonen's time with the Marlies was derailed by a pair of devastating injuries, ultimately pushing him down the depth chart as well.
Hirvonen decided it would be best to rediscover his game and get more playing time back home, so he joined Karpat of the SM-Liiga and is off to quite the start with 7 points in 7 games to lead the team.
Will either player return to North America? That remains to be seen, but given the fact that neither had made any progress towards earning an NHL roster spot since being drafted, it seems unlikely.
For now, they seem happy with their decisions to return home to Europe, and the Leafs have used their roster spots for players that better fit what Treliving and head coach Craig Berube are looking for.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 27 | 1309 ANSWERS Pair of Prospects Torching European Leagues After Leaving Maple Leafs Will Niemela or Hirvonen return to Toronto next season? | ||
| Yes | 469 | 35.8 % |
| No | 840 | 64.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
