Last year, when we did our annual ranking of the Top 10 Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects, Topi Niemela came in at fourth,
When we re-do the rankings again for this year, Topi Niemala is most likely going to be the Toronto Maple Leafs second-best prospect, and as such, it's time to promote him to the NHL team.
The timing is not only right, as Niemela is coming off an excellent AHL rookie season, but the Leafs need a right-handed puck mover in their lineup, probably desperately.
But more than anything, the Leafs blue-line lacks two things: Potential and a High-End Elite Defenseman, which means they cannot just role in with their expected group and hope to find success.
The Time Is Now for the Toronto Maple Leafs to Finally Promote Top Prospect
The Leafs blue-line is going to feature Chris Tanev, Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe, Timothy Liljegren and Oliver Ekman Larsson.
After that? It's wide open.
Simon Benoit is normally listed as the next man up, but he's not very good and lacks upside.
Caden Weber is another option, as he's 23 and a six-foot-seven monster. He's also a lefty who hasn't ever played a game above the NCAA level.
The Leafs could still bring in another defenseman, but their GM appears to be afraid to make trades ever since he launched the Florida Panthers into the stratosphere with his last trade as the Flames GM.
By process of elimination, the Leafs. with their paper-thing blue-line depth, are going to have to let their AHL prospects battle for a roster spot, and by far the most likely to win that battle is Topi Nimela, who is 22 now and more than ready for the NHL.
Niemela put up 39 points in 68 games in the AHL last year, which is extremely good. A point per game AHL forward can almost certainly play in the NHL, and so can most 40 + point defenseman.
With the Marlie main offense coming from Joseph Blandini, Alex Steeves and Logan Shaw, it's not like he was passing to a team full of future superstars.
According to the Athletic, Niemal has developed "an NHL ready first pass out of the defensive zone" which is something the Leafs were horrible at when they were eliminated from the playoffs last season against Boston.
Niemela is known for his smarts, and his cool under pressure. He's very clearly going to be an NHL defenseman, but how good of one is not currently known.
The Leafs are a contender with no cap space and a need for another high-end blue-liner. There is no guarantee that Niemela develops into that, but he'll have no cap-hit and his skill set gives him the chance to succeed on a team with forwards like the Leafs possess.
At the very least, Niemela gives the Leafs blue-line some upside and he'd instantly become one of the team's best puck-movers.
Niemela's seen as having a ceiling of a top-four defender and almost no one believes he'll become an elite player. However, it's not impossible that he does, because smart players with great passing can excell in the NHL when they suddenly are paired with players who have talent levels their other teammates have never come close to matching.
Topi Niemela has nothing left to prove in any league other than the NHL. The Leafs blue-line is perfectly situated to allow for a rookie to break in.
Watching Niemela climb the depth chart could be one of the best things about wathing the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2024-25.