A Look At the Toronto Maple Leafs 3 6th Round Picks

At the 2020 NHL Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected three players in the 6th round. Here is a look at who they selected.

Like every team, the Toronto Maple Leafs won’t really know what these late round picks offer until they see them compete at a higher level. Some might be playing in the NCAA or a European Men’s League. Once these players play more games in tougher leagues, then we get a better sense of what they bring.

All three players that Toronto selected in the 6th round in the 2020 NHL Draft would be considered undersized by most, but for some, their skill makes up for their lack of size. It should be noted though that some of these players still have plenty of time to get a bit bigger and to bulk up.

Here is a complete breakdown of all three players the Toronto Maple Leafs selected in the 6th round.

Veeti Miettinen – RW

Veeti Miettinen was selected with the 168th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. The 19 year-old is from Espoo, Finland and is currently listed at 5’9 and 159 Lbs. Please remember what I said about skill over size.

Miettinen recorded 42 goals and 31 assists for 73 points in 52 games last season with Kiekko-Espoo U20 of the Finnish Junior League. His 73 points were the best on the team last season. (All stats eliteprospects.com).

This year he has travelled to the United States to play in the NCAA at St. Cloud State University. So far this season he has recorded two goals and three assists for five points in seven games.

The scouting report on Miettinen is that he has an effective wrist shot, good speed with quick four step acceleration. He has also proven to be very good on the power play. (Stats from: eliteprospects.com)

Axel Rindell – RHD

Axel Rindell was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the 177th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. Just like Miettinen, Rindell is from Espoo, Finland. He is currently listed at 6’0 and 176 Lbs.

Rindell spent most of last season already playing for Jukurit of the Finnish Elite League. He recorded six goals and 16 assists for 22 points in 47 games.

He will again be playing for Jukurit this season and so far he has put up 12 points in 17 games. It will be interesting to see if he will leave Finland to come play in North America for the 2021-22 AHL season.

Joe Miller – C

Joe Miller was selected 180th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. The 18 year-old is very undersized at 5’9 and just 150 Lbs.  He will need to bulk up for sure if he’s to have a shot at turning pro.

Last season, Miller scored 25 goals and 34 assists for 59 points in 25 games for Blake School in the United States Highschool system.

This season he is playing for the Chicago Steel of the USHL and has two pints in ten games so far. Miller is committed to attending University of Minnesota for the 2021-22 season.

I have high hopes for Axel Rindell from the highlights that I’ve seen of him over in Finland. The chance of all three of these players making it to the NHL is slim, but time will tell.