Toronto Maple Leafs European Prospects Report for February

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have an abundance of European prospects. A majority of them have continued playing in Europe since being drafted. For their development, playing in Europe is the best thing for them. However, fans in North America do not get to see them play very much, if at all.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a lot of talented prospects playing in Europe.

Some will become NHL-ready faster than others, but that is to be expected. Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas and his scouting staff have drafted a lot of talented prospects from Europe. The Maple Leafs also have many talented North American prospects, but this article will strictly focus on the ones in Europe.

Whether they play for a team in the SHL, KHL, Liiga, or elsewhere, the Toronto Maple Leafs are letting these prospects play where they have the best chance to develop.

Eventually, some will decide to play in North America and join Toronto’s AHL team, the Toronto Marlies. For most of them, playing in their home country makes things easier while they continue to develop and mature.

Toronto’s biggest success coming from Europe in recent years is their pair of Swedish defensemen.

Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren have worked their way through the AHL and are now playing full-time in the NHL.

Both are incredibly talented, and their futures in the NHL look promising. They are the future core of the Toronto Maple Leafs defense.

(Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) /

Toronto has three goaltenders playing in Europe, which I would like to focus on in this article.

Toronto Maple Leafs European Goaltending Prospects

Artur Akhtyamov – Russia

Artur Akhtyamov is from Kazan, Russia. Toronto selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL draft with the 106th overall pick.

Before getting drafted in 2020, Akhtyamov had a productive 2019/20 season. That year, he posted a record of 26-13-6 in 46 games with seven shutouts.

He finished the 2019/20 season with a 1.80 GAA and a .931 SV%. Jump ahead to this season, and you will see that he continues to play well. His current record this season is 20-11-3, with six shutouts in 35 games. He has a 1.75 GAA and a .943 SV%. (Stats from eliteprospects.com)

Vyacheslav Peksa – Russia

Vyacheslav Peska is from Magnitogorsk, Russia. Toronto selected him in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL draft with the 185th overall pick.

He is currently playing for Bars Kazan of the VHL in Russia. Peska’s overall record is not great, but he’s doing well with his overall stats. His record is 13-19-5 through 39 games with two shutouts. He has a 2.33 GAA and a .922 SV%.

Dennis Hildeby – Sweden

Dennis Hildeby is from Jarfalla, Sweden. Toronto selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL draft with the 122nd overall pick.

Hildeby is one of Toronto’s biggest prospects at 6’6″ and 234 Lbs. He is currently on load to Farjestad BK in the SHL. His current record is 8-6-0 with two shutouts. Hildeby’s overall stats are pretty good, with a 2.20 GAA and a .921 SV%. He is the only goaltender out of the three on this list that has signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Toronto Maple Leafs European Defensive Prospects

Topi Niemela – Finland

Topi Niemela is a right-shooting defenseman from Oulu, Finland. The Toronto Maple Leafs selected him in the third round of the 2020 NHL draft with the 64th overall pick.

He is currently playing in Finland for Karpat in Liiga. Niemela has six goals and six assists for 12 points in 43 games. There is a good chance he will come to North America next season and play for the Toronto Marlies in the AHL.

Kalle Loponen – Finland

Kalle Loponen is a right-shooting defenseman from Hameenlinna, Finland. Toronto selected him in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL draft with the 204th overall pick.

He has spent most of this season with KooKoo in Liiga, but has also been on loan to HPK in Liiga, and Kettera in Mestis. Loponen has two goals and three assists for five points in 24 games with KooKoo this season.

Toronto Maple Leafs European Forward Prospects

Roni Hirvonen – Finland

Roni Hirvonen is from Espoo, Finland. Toronto selected him in the second round of the 2020 NHL draft with the 59th overall pick.

His current contract does not expire until the end of the 2024/25 season. Right now, he is on loan to HIFK in Liiga. He has 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points in 44 games.

Dmitri Ovchinnikov – Russia

Dmitri Ovchinnikov is from Chita, Russia. Toronto selected him in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL draft with the 137th overall pick.

He is on loan this season to Sibir Novosibirsk in the KHL. Through 59 games, he has recorded five goals and seven assists for 12 points. Like Hirvonen, Ovchinnikov is signed with Toronto, and his current contract expires at the end of the 2023/24 season.

Veeti Miettinen – Finland

Veeti Miettinen is from Espoo, Finland. Toronto selected him in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL draft with the 168th overall pick.

After being drafted, Miettinen left Finland and committed to playing at St. Cloud State University in the NCAA. This is his third season in the NCAA, and he has six goals and 15 assists for 21 points in 26 games.

Nikita Grebenkin – Russia

Nikita Grebenkin (Grebyonkin) is from Serov, Russia. Toronto selected him in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL draft with the 135th overall pick. He has bounced around between five teams this season in Russia, between the MHL, VHL, and KHL levels.

Next. Leafs Top 10 Prospects. dark

Grebenkin is currently on loan with Amur Khabarovsk, where he has eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points in 38 games.

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