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

[Orfieus]

Player of the game last night

 

[Morgs]

VesaToskala is a troll account, but I do love the comparisons

He was amazing last night. It was my second time watching him live this season (first in U20 Sarja pre-draft) and his skating is way better than I remember. I had him as the 4th best defenseman in the draft and a 1st round pick. Hoping he keeps up showings like that in the WJC.

 

[LeafChief]

Very much liked what I saw from Niemala last night.

 

[stickty111]

Niemela showed yesterday why he was 23rd on my board. His skating is better then what I even thought.

 

[Walshy7]

Player of the game last night

Joick Klingjalmarsson? yes please

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

personally I have him as the best defensive prospect in our pool aside from Sandin/Liljegren. He can really impact the game at both ends

 

[Morgs]

personally I have him as the best defensive prospect in our pool aside from Sandin/Liljegren. He can really impact the game at both ends

I'm not sure anyone other than Kokkonen is that close either. Even then (I'm trying not to make judgements after one game) my goodness did Niemela look another level than him too last night.

 

[The Iceman]

personally I have him as the best defensive prospect in our pool aside from Sandin/Liljegren. He can really impact the game at both ends

How do you rate the remaining guys?
Kral
Hollowell
Duszak
Rubins
Kokkonen
Kivihalme

anyone else worth mentioning?

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

I'm not sure anyone other than Kokkonen is that close either. Even then (I'm trying not to make judgements after one game) my goodness did Niemela look another level than him too last night.

I think Rindell can work his way into that conversation, but I do think it's fair to say the defensive tiers are Sandin/Liljegren and then Niemela/Kokkonen for now. I think Kokkonen's defensive ability is the best attribute between the two, but Niemela has more strengths overall. So it's really just if you prefer the player with one very high end attribute or the player who is the complete package

 

[Morgs]

How do you rate the remaining guys?
Kral
Hollowell
Duszak
Rubins
Kokkonen
Kivihalme

anyone else worth mentioning?

I know you were asking CantLose, but

Kokkonen
--
Rindell
Hollowell
Koster
Kral
Villeneuve
Loponen
--
Rubins
Duszak
Rasanen
O'Connell
Fusco
Greenway

Anyone after Loponen is probably not worth thinking too much about.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

How do you rate the remaining guys?
Kral
Hollowell
Duszak
Rubins
Kokkonen
Kivihalme

anyone else worth mentioning?

Kokkonen is the best of that group, and then Villeneuve, Rindell and Koster are in that tier with the rest of those guys. It's hard to really put them in order though

 

[Kiwi]

I know you were asking CantLose, but

Kokkonen
--
Rindell
Hollowell
Koster
Kral
Villeneuve
Loponen
--
Rubins
Duszak
Rasanen
O'Connell
Fusco
Greenway

Anyone after Loponen is probably not worth thinking too much about.

The organization seems to have a lot of time for Rubins, the way he's being treated reminds me a bit of how they developed and thought of Holl

Sandin
Liljegren

Niemela
Kokkonen

Everybody else, if they become NHL players it's a huge bonus

 

[Orfieus]

I'm not sure anyone other than Kokkonen is that close either. Even then (I'm trying not to make judgements after one game) my goodness did Niemela look another level than him too last night.

I'm hoping Kokkonen will be a really good 3rd pairing guy, someone to trust in front of the net and kill penalties

 

[stickty111]

This might be a bit of an overreaction on 1 game, but I might have to reconsider and put Niemela as the 3rd best D prospect after the obvious 2. I think I probably still have Kokkonen 3rd because he is more proven, but Niemela's overall game might have higher upside. Thats not to knock Kokkonen as I think his defensive game alone gets him to the NHL, but Niemela's skating and polish is better then what I thought. There is nothing wrong with Kokkonen as the 3rd best D prospect, but the fact we might have someone better speaks to the depth there in the system.

 

[stickty111]

I think Rindell can work his way into that conversation, but I do think it's fair to say the defensive tiers are Sandin/Liljegren and then Niemela/Kokkonen for now. I think Kokkonen's defensive ability is the best attribute between the two, but Niemela has more strengths overall. So it's really just if you prefer the player with one very high end attribute or the player who is the complete package

Yup Kokkonen's defensive game is so advanced that he could become a 3rd pair PK specialist with that alone, but Niemela offers a lot more of an all round game.

 

[weems]

 

[LeafChief]

I really love the way he skates. This is an overreaction but he kind of reminded me of Kaberle.

 

[stickty111]

Do you know where he got the TOI numbers?

 

[Trunz05]

Kinda reminds me of Esa Lindell which if he comes anywhere close to as good would be a huge W for the leafs.

 

[Funk21]

Another really solid night, 1G 1A. Didn’t watch the game but how was his D?

 

[X66]

Another really solid night, 1G 1A. Didn’t watch the game but how was his D?

Amazing.

 

[crump]

Solid every time on the ice. Really great instincts defensively, showed some physicality and of course scored a nice goal. Quick feet, someone compared him to Dermott. Good comparison at the same age.

 

[LeafChief]

I can't believe he was a 3rd round pick. Moreso can't believe that we traded a 2nd to Ottawa and got a 2nd and 3rd back which netted us Niemala and Hirvonen.

Would it be out of question for Niemala to be in the running for top D at the tournament from what we've seen so far?

 

[FinPanda]

He has been one of the best Finns so far, even in the practise game.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Solid prospect.

Plays an incredibly mature game for his age.