3 Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects Guaranteed to be at the World Juniors

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

By Mike Jack | Nov 28, 2021

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 of Finland (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) /

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.

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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.

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