3 Surprises Who Will Make Toronto Maple Leafs Opening Night Roster

No. 2: Topi Niemela

It feels like we've been talking about Topi Niemela forever, but the 22-year-old has only played one full professional season in North America, so far. Hyped as the team's top defensive prospect, Niemela seems ready to make the leap to the NHL.

Although it's not too shocking to think of Niemela as an NHL player, it is right now as the team's defensive line-up looks set.

The Leafs currently have six NHL defenseman on the roster, so which player would he knock off between Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larrson, Timothy Liljegren, Jake McCabe, Morgan Rielly and Simon Benoit?

This seems incredibly unlikely, but of all the players, it feels like Benoit would be the most likely to find his way to the press box as he is a borderline NHL regular, at best.

I'm not hoping, or predicting, that a defenseman will get hurt, but it's possible that one does and it opens the door for Niemela.

The right-handed defenseman got into a groove with the Marlies last year and was playing in all situations, which should get Leafs fans excited. He'd be a shock to make the team's opening night line-up, but if he plays well enough in training camp, he could find a way.