3 Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects Guaranteed To Be at the World Juniors

Last year, the Toronto Maple Leafs had six prospects earn the right to display their talents at the 2021 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship in Edmonton and Red Deer.

This year the tournament returns to Edmonton and Red Deer starting December 26th, 2021 with a new crop of fresh talent and a few returning stars.

Most of the Toronto Maple Leafs prospects from last year’s tournament have aged out for this year’s tournament including the Maple Leafs 2020 1st round pick, Rodion Amirov, who had 6 points in 7 games last year.

Amirov’s Russian teammates, Mikhail Abramov, who is a rookie on the Toronto Marlies this season, and Russia goaltender, Artur Akhtyamov, who won his only start in the tournament allowing one goal with a .944 save percentage, are also ineligible to return.

Defensemen, Mikko Kokkonen, has also aged out after his Finnish team took home the bronze medal last year.

Before we get into the Toronto Maple Leafs prospects who are shoe-ins for their World Junior teams, let’s take a look at a few wildcards hoping to represent their countries :

Here are some Toronto Maple Leafs U20 prospects who are having great seasons but may be long shots to receive an invite to the 2022 World Junior Championship Tournament:
(All stats from EliteProspects.com)

Dmitri Ovchinnikov – Russia

Forward, Dmitri Ovchinnikov, broke into the KHL last season which is difficult for any U20 player to accomplish.  He hasn’t had much success in the KHL so far, but he has 3 goals and 5 points in 4 MHL games (Russian Junior League) this season.

He played 16 KHL games last season, and put up 20 goals and 51 points in 40 MHL games to lead all MHL players playing 40 or more games in points per game.

The Russian team recently released a preliminary roster for the 2022 World Juniors, and Ovchinnikov was not on the list, so it’s doubtful that he’ll make the team.

Dmitri Ovchinnikov was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 5th round (137 overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Vyacheslav Peksa – Russia

Goaltender, Vyacheslav Peksa, has been putting up great numbers in the MHL this season with a .939 save percentage (3rd in the MHL) and 1.78 goals against average (4th in the MHL) despite his 10-8-6 record.

Like I said, Team Russia has already revealed their preliminary roster and Peksa did not make the cut.  I think everyone knows that Yaroslav Askarov will be Russia’s starting goaltender anyway.

Vyacheslav Peksa was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 6th round (185 overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Ty Voit – USA

Left wing, Ty Voit, is playing well for the OHL’s Sarnia Sting this season with 20 points in 15 games despite missing all of last season due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He’s the third highest US born scorer in the OHL this season, but that may not be good enough to crack Team USA this year.

Voit wasn’t invited to the US World Junior Summer Showcase last summer, so it’s unlikely he’ll get an invite to the tournament.

Since he is only 18 years old, Voit will have another opportunity to earn an invite next year.

Ty Voit was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 5th round (153 overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Joe Miller – USA

Forward, Joe Miller, is having a breakout season with the Chicago Steel in the USHL with 21 points in 19 games.  That’s good enough for Miller to be ranked 6th in USHL scoring.

It may not be good enough to earn Miller an invite though as he also wasn’t invited to the US World Junior Summer Showcase.

Joe Miller was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 6th round (180 overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Now here’s a look at three Toronto Maple Leafs prospects who are destined to thrill at this year’s World Junior Championship!:

Matthew Knies – USA

Left winger Matthew Knies  is projected to crack the top line for Team USA at the World Juniors this year after a fantastic showing at the World Junior Summer Showcase.

Knies was the top American scorer at the WJSS with 4 goals and 7 points in 5 games, and was ranked 3rd in the tournament for goals and points.

This season, Matthew Knies has scored 7 goals and 14 points in 14 games in the NCAA to lead the University of Minnesota in goals and points.  That also ranks him 3rd in goals and 5th in points among U20 American NCAA forwards.

Though some scouts projected a first round selection, Matthew Knies was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2nd round (57 overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft after he scored 17 goals and 42 points in 44 games with the Tri-City Storm in the USHL.

Topi Niemelä – Finland

Defenseman, Topi Niemelä, will not only get an invite to the 2022 World Junior Championship, he may be one of the biggest stars of the tournament.

At last years tournament, Niemelä scored 2 goals and 8 points in 7 games to lead all defensemen in goals, assists and points on his way to being awarded as Best Defenseman.

During the US WJSS, Niemelä was back it with 2 goals and 6 points in 6 games to lead all defensemen in goals and points and finish 5th overall in tournament points.

This year, Topi Niemelä has taken Liiga by storm with 20 points in 23 games to lead all defensemen in points and rank 3rd in the league in points.

He is currently the top scoring U20 player in Liiga which is especially amazing considering he’s a defenseman.

Topi Niemelä was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 3rd round (64 overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Topi Niemelä is a top prospect for the Maple Leafs with superstar potential.  I can’t wait to see what he can do in this tournament and in the future with the Toronto Maple Leafs.