There have been a few genuine Leafs prospect success stories this season: By calmly and coolly dominating the AHL, Dennis Hildeby looks like a goalie of the future. Easton Cowan’s production is off the charts: the London Knights forward is in the middle of an 18-game point streak and is leading the OHL with 1.78 points per game. Ryan Tverberg was named AHL rookie of the month for January.
Perhaps lost amidst it all are the strides Topi Niemela has made this season.
At 21, the 2020 third-round pick remains the best defenceman in the Leafs prospect pool. In his first full AHL season after four seasons in Finland’s Liiga, Niemela has not only seamlessly adapted to a different rink size, he has displayed traits that suggest an NHL future.
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