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Toronto Maple Leafs Postseason Overseas Prospect Update

By Carter Loewen

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. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
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. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) /
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EDMONTON, AB – JANUARY 02: Elmer Soderblom #25 of Sweden skates against Topi Niemela #7 o  (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) /

Topi Niemelä

Age: 18

H/W:  5’11″/165 lbs

POS:  D

2021 Team: Kärpät (Liiga)

Drafted: 64th Overall (Round 3) 2020 NHL Entry Draft

After being drafted in the third round in October by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Topi Niemelä has put together an all-impressive season.

Niemelä has spent the season split between Kärpät of the Liiga, the top league in Finland, as well as their U20 Team.

With the U20 Karpat team in Finland, Niemelä put up four points in 6 games before being promoted to the mens team. With the mens team as an 18-year-old, Niemela has played 15 games with an ATOI of 15:30 and has put up four assists (stats liiga.fi).

Unfortunately on February 16th, Niemela took a hard crash into boards going for a puck and suffered an undisclosed injury. The defenseman is expected to be out for another 2-3 weeks.

Prior to injury in December, Niemela put on a clinic at the WJC in Edmonton. Niemela chalked up 6 assists and 8 points in 7 games while assisting Finland in capturing a bronze medal.

Niemela’s puck-moving ability and great play on both sides of the puck resulted in Niemela being named the tournament’s Top Defenseman. This comes just a year after fellow Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Rasmus Sandin won the same award at the 2020 Tournament.

Keep in mind, Niemela has done all of this in a season as an 18-year-old. With the Liiga’s regular season coming to an end soon, Niemela may be able to join the team back in the playoffs and get back on track with a great season.

The future looks bright for Niemela and finding the defenseman in the third round this year makes GM Kyle Dubas look like a genius once again.

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