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. Hes working on his defence. All three should be interesting to watch at this years World Juniors, not least because its individually each their last shot at the gold. Niemela will be defending his title as the top defenseman from last years tournament. 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. Lilley says: Hes playing in three different leagues, but quite frankly hes doing his part in stopping the puck. rights reserved. Leave a comment below and let me know. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. And. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. The organizations 2020 NHL Draft may have been their last major haul. Related: 2023 Guide to the World Junior Championship. They can make a good living and not have to learn a new language or new customs. The Leafs prospect is a standout skater and transition player whose two-way game helps his team on the penalty kill. The 10 Best NHL Players From the 2013 World Juniors If you care about the team with the maple leaf on its jersey, youll be watching Canada at the world junior hockey tournament. The Finnish national team picked. 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%). 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. In Finlands seven games, Roni Hirvonen had seven points and Niemela had six points. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the. Alex Hobson is a writer and a radio producer for 610 CKTB. Jan 10, 2023. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images). The defenceman is five-foot-11, shoots right and models his game after Cale Makar, and the younger version of Erik Karlsson. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Matthew Knies saved his best game for the last one of the group stage, helping USA win Group B. . The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today the club's 27-man roster that will participate in the 2022 Traverse City Prospect Tournament at Centre ICE Arena in Traverse City, MI. He has a great shot. Firstly, the Maple Leafs were so close to having a prospect in the tournament had Voit been considered for the U.S. team. Whatever the state of affairs within the United States hockey program, its a massive oversight to leave Ty Voit out. He makes a good first pass and jump into the play. 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. 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. It was a really good experience, Hirvonen said. The Leafs will have six prospects three with Russia and three with Finland competing at the 2021 world junior hockey championship in Edmonton, starting on Dec. 26. Credit: Photo by Steven Ellis . Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ty Voit has somehow been overlooked when it comes to the USA World Juniors camp. He's putting up nearly a point a game in the minors and showed well . This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. Jan 2, 2021 World Juniors 2020: Breakdown of every NHL teams' prospects | Sporting News Canada MIN DAL 12:00p -154 ANA WIN 12:00p -256 DET CBJ 3:00p SJ BUF 4:00p CHI NYI 4:30p VGS BOS Mon, 4:00p COL PHI Mon,. Sign up for our regular 'Maple Leafs Newsletter' for all the latest. All three players have aged out and are ineligible for this years tournament. 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 Finns are two-thirds of the Leafs prospect contingent at the world juniors. He definitely deserves an invite to camp, but if he doesnt make the team this year, hes eligible for the 2024 tournament as well. Nikita Korostolev 11-2-16 | KIT @ SAR | 1G 0A 1P | -1 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. Nick Robertson will not be returning to the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. Alex Hobson is a writer and a radio producer for 610 CKTB. 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. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Nick Robertson will unfortunately have zero impact on the 2022-23 season, as he underwent shoulder surgery, ultimately keeping him out six months. 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. Maple Leafs Commentary: Will Dubas Target Darcy Kuemper? With 16 points in 14 games for the University of Connecticut, Tverbergs development looks to be way ahead of schedule. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about 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. Matthew Knies, Left-Wing, Age 20. Just five picks before the Maple Leafs selected Niemela. He was undrafted but signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs as an 18 year old after the 2021 NHL draft. 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. 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. Were excited for him. He can make some plays. However, plenty of smaller players are now proving more than competent in the NHL. 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. 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. They've known each other since they were kids. The 5-10, 177-pounder scored 55 goals in 46 games in his final year with Peterborough of the Ontario Hockey League in 2019-20 and will be looked upon to provide offense in the NHL this season. 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. Lets also hope this doesnt effect any other team at the tournament either. Through two games, Hirvonen hasnt scored a goal and only has one assist to show for his effort. He would have missed the start of training camp. Ovchinnikov was one of the stories of Toronto's prospect pool last year, putting up a massive season in the MHL with 20 goals and 31 assists in just 40 games. "We want to see him elevate his game and really take control from the blue line," Wickenheiser said, "and that's from a defensive standpoint as well in terms of being able to play two ways and be that outstanding defenseman that he was last year. 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. It was a draft that saw the Maple Leafs make 12 selections over the seven rounds, including one in each round. . NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL.com is providing in-depth prospect analysis for each of its 32 teams from August 8-September 8. 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. 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. You can follow him on Twitter at @AndrewGForbes. 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. 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. "Physically, he is very imposing. 1 slot for the 2023 draft. "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. Prospect Pool Overview: Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs have some notable names in the prospect pipeline. Of the four Toronto Maple Leafs prospects that did get selected, there will be three countries represented. The Flames used it to take Aidan Thompson with the 90th overall pick and retained 50 percent of Rittichs contract. In both games hes logged over 21:30, logging 22:11 against Austria even though he took two minor penalties. 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 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. However, lets recap Knies performance so far. The Toronto Maple Leafs will be keeping a close eye on their four prospects and hoping to see great things. 5 Maple Leafs' Prospects Flying Under the Radar January 5, 2023 by Peter Baracchini Compared to the other teams in the league the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect pool isn't as strong. Komarov is 5-foot-10 and 213 pounds. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. He has an offensive game, yet he doesnt give up a lot of defensively., Drafted: 2019 (fourth round, 115th overall). World Juniors; Hockey Canada; Olympics; Euro; . Here is a breakdown of the Maple Leafs prospects at this years tournament: Drafted: 2020 (first round, 15th overall). Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onToronto Maple Leafs and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. 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. So the Maple Leafs learned a harsh lesson on Saturday night. Noesen played just one game for the Maple Leafs in the regular season and ended up heading to Carolina the following season. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. 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. With many players aging out from the 2022 tournament, he will have a good shot at making it this year. Finland coach Antti Pennanen said the comparison is warranted. 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. 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. He needs more strength. And Hirvonen is captain of the Finnish entry at the world junior hockey championship, while Niemel is an alternate captain. Some players will enjoy great careers, while other highly-touted prospects will fail to meet the lofty expectations. OHL; QMJHL; WHL . Tverberg getting chosen by Team Canada for the 2022 World Junior Championship was a bit of a surprise. Tikkanen is 6-foot and 200 pounds. All Rights Reserved. Niemel picked up an assist in Mondays loss to Canada, his fourth of the tournament. 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. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. Toronto Maple Leafs: What Is Nick Robertson's Role Next Season? He plays in the pro league as well playing against men. 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. 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. Here is a look at each of those four prospects. The Toronto Maple Leafs may be on hiatus, but some of their prospects are keeping busy at the World Juniors. Somehow though, the Pittsburgh-born youngster hasnt been given the chance to help the United States in their quest for World Juniors gold. But they did venture over earlier in the summer, a week before other prospects had their development camp. Steeves was 2nd in the NCAA in primary even-strength points with 20, including 13 of his 15 goals. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. Whats more is that the team only had the one selection in the first four rounds in 2021, which certainly doesnt help the case of having a top-end player from any country when it comes to this best-on-best set-up. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. He is as defensively sound as a teenager can be. 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. While a majority of. So what happened to the picks that couldve been? (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images). Hes a 19-year-old playing in one of the top leagues in the world. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto ", How acquired: Selected with No. We create the lists without any biases toward country or nationality. 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. Here's this week's look at some of the Toronto Maple Leafs prospects and how they're doing at the major junior level. They grabbed notable names like Rodion Amirov in the first round, Roni Hirvonen in the second round and Topi Niemel in the third round. I think he has also improved his skill since last season, especially his pro athlete mindset.. In his superb oral history, The Toronto Maple Leafs, author Eric Zweig summed up what Bentley meant to the Leafs. 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. This is the player with the most assists in the whole of the CHL, not just the OHL. Last time round they found themselves eliminated at the quarter-final stage by Czechia and it wouldnt be entirely surprising to see a similar result this time, especially given the insistence on not picking a squad of best possible options. The 2023 World Junior Championship begins today with four games: Finland/Switzerland, Sweden/Austria, Latvia/USA, and Czechia/Canada. Interestingly, in both comparisons, we likened him to players who were larger. But the Leafs havent drafted a Canadian in the first round since taking Marner fourth overall in 2015. 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. Additionally, he was able to notch roughly a point every second game in the Finnish Liiga also; again despite playing against much older competition. There would have been another with the. Breaking ankles, scoring goals.Typical Saturday night for @Matthew_Knies pic.twitter.com/3jEZtTDXLl. Whether drafted or undrafted, it is a great opportunity to showcase their talent. 7 Reasons Connor McDavid Is the Worlds Best Hockey Player, Avalanche Must Fix Attitude and Power Play Problems, NHL Rumors: Blackhawks, Kraken, Bruins, Canucks, 3 Devils Who Can Join Jack Hughes at the All-Star Game, Red Wings Jake Walman Is Proving His Worth. . 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