Be sure to like HockeyBuzz on facebook! For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
An important aspect of the Toronto Maple Leafs future success will be to find young prospects to develop and fill holes on their roster with core players like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander taking up nearly 50% of their team budget. Leafs GM Kyle Dubas was successful in unearthing gems Rasmus Sandin and Nick Robertson at the 2018 and 2019 NHL Draft and the early indications are positive on 2020 first round pick Rodion Amirov and third rounder Topi Niemela.
Amirov leads Russia with six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in four games and had a goal and two assists in a 4-3 overtime victory over Sweden on Wednesday.
That’s a familiar celly 👀
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 31, 2020
Rodion Amirov has his second goal in as many nights at the #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/ypwjtqIBAg
The 15th overall pick scored on the power play in the first period and assisted on Kirill Kirsanov’s go-ahead goal and Marat Khusnutdinov’s overtime winner, as well as leading the Russians with seven shots on goal. Toronto prospect Mikhail Abramov also added an assist and has two points in two games.
The #WorldJuniors kicked into high gear today, capped with an Sweden-Russia OT thriller that ended on the stick of @russiahockey 's Marat Khusnutdinov, snapping @trekronor's 54-game preliminary round win streak! pic.twitter.com/E6HvxnqI4S
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 31, 2020
Topi Niemela (@MapleLeafs) lowers the boom.#LeafsForever
— EP Rinkside (@EPRinkside) December 30, 2020
(📹: @TSN_Sports) #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/mMNuQuPv8G
“(Topi) is so skillful. He can make plays and has improved his game a lot since last season, especially his defensive skills.… Finnish head coach Antti Pennanen said after the game. “I like him a lot and he is an important player for us. He can play both the (penalty kill and power play), and it’s fun to watch how he plays.…
Leafs second round pick Roni Hirvonen is also having a good tournament, adding a pair of assists in the win over the Slovaks.
🚨🇫🇮Delayed penalty allows @leijonat to pull their goalie for an extra attacker and Finland converts to a goal! 2-0 as Topi Niemela finds the back of the net. #WorldJuniors @MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/LgfT9errqe
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 30, 2020
*******
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact… button at the top of the page.*******