Professional – Liiga
Mikko Kokkonen
Drafted – 2019, Round 3, #84
Age-18, Left handed Defenceman, 5’11, 198lbs
Mikko Kokkenen hasn’t carried his red-hot form from his draft year into this season just yet. He has split his time between the professional club, Jukurit and their junior set-up.
He’s point-less in his 9 games in the Liiga but is still getting over 16 minutes of ice time a game. Jukurit aren’t a good team and get heavily outshot in basically every game. Kokkonen is a real prospect and if he can remain at the Liiga level and slowly get his feet back under him, he is a realistic long term option the Leafs and Marlies will look at.
Martins Dzierkals
Drafted – 2015, Round 3, #68
Age-22, Winger, 5’11, 170lbs
Somehow still a prospect in the Toronto Maple Leafs system, Martins Dzierkals is still plugging away in Europe. The speedy winger was off to a great start, notching 4 points in his first 7 games with Jukurit.
That form was shortlived however, with Dzierkals only managing a solo assist in his last 6 appearances. Dzierkals is somewhat of a one dimensional player, he relies heavily on his speed and offensive toolkit.
He is basically exactly what the Leafs and Marlies have an overwhelming abundance of, only he believes he is above spending any time at the ECHL level. Which sadly for Martins, is likely where he falls in the Leafs depth chart.
No real loss here, nonetheless we will continue to give you updates on the young Latvian whilst he remains a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect.