Two Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects to Join Toronto Marlies

The Toronto Maple Leafs have two prospects from overseas coming over to North America. Russian prospect Dmitry Ovchinnikov and Finnish prospect Topi Niemela will join the Toronto Marlies in the AHL.

Ovchinnikov was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL draft with the 137th overall pick.

He registered five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 68 games for Sibir Novosibirsk this season. The 20-year-old forward has terminated his KHL contract and will join the Marlies. He played seven games with the Marlies last season and recorded two goals.
(Stats from eliteprospects.com)

Finnish prospect Topi Niemela’s season has ended after losing a best-of-three wild card play-in series to KooKoo in the Finnish Elite League (Liiga). The 20-year-old defenseman registered eight goals and ten assists for 18 points in 18 points. He will now join the Toronto Marlies for the rest of their season and the AHL Calder Cup playoffs.

The Toronto Marlies have 12 games remaining in the regular season. They have a commanding lead in the AHL’s North Division with a 40-17-3 record for 83 points.

They join the Toronto Maple Leafs and Newfoundland Growlers to give every team in the organization a 40-win season. After a 5-0 loss to the Charlotte Checkers on Friday, the Marlies will be looking for revenge on Saturday evening. With the AHL playoffs just a month away, having some extra bodies available will come in handy for Greg Moore and his Marlies coaching staff.

Toronto Maple Leafs Organizational Depth on Display

The Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Marlies, and Newfoundland Growlers have all had their share of injuries this season. Having organizational depth to withstand those injuries is something the organization has been blessed with this season.

Due to injuries this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have had to rely on its fair share of players from the Marlies.

To their credit, the Marlies never seemed to be depleted and continued to win with their own depth players. Adding Ovchinnikov and Niemela will give the Marlies even more depth. The added depth allows the Marlies to adjust seamlessly when one of its players is called up to the Maple Leafs.

Ovchinnikov and Niemela will be regulars in the Toronto Marlies lineup next season. Niemela is viewed as Toronto’s top defense prospect, so expect him to get plenty of playing time. The Maple Leafs will be monitoring him and his development closely.