Prospect Info: 2020 3rd Rd Selection - #64 OA (via OTT) - RD Topi Niemela (Karpat) - 6'0 163

IceColdOx

Registered User
Jan 29, 2019
577
365
Watertown, NY
Finnish defenceman Topi Niemela has advanced quickly up the ranks, as the 17-year-old defenceman is playing for Karpat in the SM Liiga, Finland’s top men’s league. He’s been eased into the league, with limited minutes each night but still has one goal and six assists for seven points in 43 games this season. Niemela put up two points in four games in the Champions Hockey League. He also played one game in the Finnish junior league, picking up one assist. Last season, Niemela had one goal and six assists for seven points in the Finnish Jr. A league. He added four points in 11 playoff games. Niemela helped the Karpat U-20 team to the league title.

Niemela has also been part of Finland’s teams on the international stage, playing in the summer’s Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, scoring three assists in three games. He also played at last spring’s IIHF Under-18 World Championships with one goal in five games. Karpat was part of Finland’s silver-medal winning team at last year’s Under-17 World Hockey Challenge. He scored an assist in six tournament games.

https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/2020/05/12/topi-niemela-scouting-report/
 

7even

Offered and lost
Feb 1, 2012
18,569
14,126
North Carolina
4hofls.jpg
 

Ricky Bobby

Registered User
Aug 31, 2008
8,456
312
Man all these europeans... Seems like we are picking players that will be playing in the upcoming year

Also guys who will likely come over a year or two later with extra time left on their ELC vs. burning through it at the AHL level.
 

J1mLahey

Registered User
Jan 13, 2011
406
778
Toronto
How posters will evaluate the pick:

1) does he shoot right
2) how much he weighs/height

All jokes aside, I like what I've seen from him albeit via YouTube clips. Seems to be ranked higher on a lot of lists (38, on Bobby Macs). Bonus all these kids are playing hockey right now as well.
 
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kevsh

Registered User
Nov 28, 2018
3,200
4,345
"Shuts down opposing zone entries" is very nice to hear.

A highly underrated skill for d-men as being efficient in preemptively stopping a forecheck can certainly help a team like the Leafs who don't excel at defending against the cycle.
 
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