Toronto Maple Leafs European Prospect Update

TORONTO, ON- SEPTEMBER 10 - Eemeli Rasanen is checked by Bobby Dow as the the Toronto Maple Leafs Rookie team plays the Ottawa Senators Rookies in the 2017 Rookie Tournament at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. September 10, 2017. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON- SEPTEMBER 10 - Eemeli Rasanen is checked by Bobby Dow as the the Toronto Maple Leafs Rookie team plays the Ottawa Senators Rookies in the 2017 Rookie Tournament at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. September 10, 2017. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – JUNE 22: Mikko Kokkonen reacts after being selected 84th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Light/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – JUNE 22: Mikko Kokkonen reacts after being selected 84th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Light/Getty Images)

Professional – Liiga

Mikko Kokkonen

Drafted – 2019, Round 3, #84
Age-18, Left handed Defenceman, 5’11, 198lbs
Mikko Kokkenen is coming off what was an extremely impressive year for a player drafted in the third round on the 2019 draft. He was playing over 17 minutes in the top professional league in Finland and managed 19 points (3-16-19) in 56 games. That made Kokkonen the top producing defenceman on his team as a 17-year-old.

This season Kokkenen has had a slow start, split between the junior team and the men’s team. He has played 6 games for the junior team, with 2 points (2-0-2) and 2 games for the top side. In his two games he is pointless and has been given reduced minutes compared to last season.

Despite a slow start, we should expect to see Mikko’s numbers improve through the year as he finds his way back in the fold with Jukurit.

Martins Dzierkals

Drafted – 2015, Round 3, #68
Age-22, Winger, 5’11, 170lbs
Martins Dzierkals is the strangest of all Toronto Maple Leaf ‘prospects.’ I say that, because Martins has reportedly made it clear to the organisation that he wishes to be elsewhere. The Leafs couldn’t guarantee him that he wouldn’t spend time in the ECHL and he believed he was above that level.

This is no real loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, whilst Martins has shown he can play at the professional level, he is the type of player that Leafs have in absolute abundance. He’s a small, shifty, offensively talented winger who is likely, at best, a bottom 6 forward.

Dzierkals has 4 points in his first 7 games with Jukurit of Liiga, the Leafs have his rights for indefinite period of time according to Capfriendly. Hopefully he does become a player of value to other teams, in that case, at the very least the Leafs could recoup some assets for him.