For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
*******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. *******
Throughout the season, we will check in on the Toronto Maple Leafs prospects to see how they are progressing. The 2020 Draft included a dozen picks and a great deal of promise.
Here is how the players selected in the 2020 Draft are doing:
Roni Hirvonen – C - 2nd round – 59th overall - Toronto (AHL)
The 21-year-old center had a career-high 28 points in his final season in Liiga for HIFK Helsinki and came over this summer to participate in the club’s rookie development camp. Hirvonen recovered from a scary mid-ice hit and took part in training camp, but has only played two AHL games with the Marlies and has been out of action since late October with an upper-body injury.
We hope Roni Hirvonen is ok. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/D0X6tVZrec
— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) July 8, 2023
Topi Niemela – D - 3rd round – 64th overall – Toronto (AHL)
After lower-than-expected totals in his final year in Finland, Niemela performed well for the Marlies during the Calder Cup Playoffs last May and although not ready for the NHL, the 21-year-old is showing a great deal of promise so far, with seven points (2 goals, 5 assists) in 11 games.
Artur Akhtyamov – G - 4th round – 106th overall – Ak-Bars Kazan (KHL)
The 22-year-old goalie is now sharing the duties with veteran Timur Bilyalov in the KHL after three years of splitting time between Ak-Bars and lower-level Russian leagues. Akhtyamov has a .500 record (6-6-0), but has an excellent 2.39 GAA and .923 save % in 16 games.
William Villeneuve – D - 4th round – 122nd overall – Toronto (AHL)
After winning a Memorial Cup and an excellent season with Saint John, Villeneuve went through some growing pains in his first pro season, but finished up with 25 points as a rookie with the Marlies. So far, after being part of an early season rotation, the 21-year-old blueliner has played regularly in November and has four assists in 10 games.
Dmitri Ovchinnikov – F – 5th round – 137th overall – Toronto (AHL)
Ovchinnikov scored a pair of goals in a brief AHL stint at the end of the 2021-22 season, but went back on loan to Novosibirsk to get more playing time, where he had an offensively disappointing 13 points in 68 games, but may have benefitted from a higher level of competition. After going scoreless in his first four games for the Marlies, Ovchinnikov is benefitting from the opportunity created by the Leafs calling up Bobby McMann. The 21-year-old scored his first AHL hat trick in a 7-3 win over Grand Rapids and followed that up with a goal and an assist in a 4-0 shutout of the Griffins on Saturday.
THREE FOR CHINNY 🧢🧢🧢 pic.twitter.com/BW1sVmg9h4
— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) November 11, 2023
Veeti Miettinen – RW – 6th round – 168th overall – St. Cloud St. (NCAA)
Miettinen had a great junior year for St. Cloud State (36 points – 12 goals, 24 assists) and is trying to make a case for the Leafs to sign him to a pro contract with a strong senior campaign. The 22-year-old winger has seven goals in 10 games.
Veeti Miettinen (No. 29) became the first St. Cloud State player to score a goal in 6 straight games since Ryan Lasch in 2007-08 with the opening tally in a 3-0 win on Saturday.
— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) November 13, 2023
Totals (NCAA): 10 GP, 7 G, 11 PTS, 50 SOG#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/8mgmXVWSly
Joe Miller – C – 6th round – 180th overall – Harvard (ECAC)
Miller graduated from the Chicago Steel of the USHL to Harvard University and after a strong freshman year for the Crimson, the 21-year-old has gotten off to a hot start, with three goals in his first five games.
Joe Miller (No. 12) tallied an early goal in Harvard's 3-2 win against No. 7 Cornell on Saturday.
— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) November 13, 2023
Totals (NCAA): 5 GP, 3 G, 4 PTS#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/MUPuWXHIZ6
John Fusco – D – 7th round – 189th overall – Dartmouth (NCAA)
Fusco struggled to get playing time as a freshman at Harvard and transferred to Dartmouth for more opportunities this season. After scoring 11 points in 22 games as a sophomore, the 22-year-old has three goals in six games for the Big Green early this season.
John Fusco (No. 3) scored both goals for Dartmouth as the Big Green tied No. 7 Cornell 2-2 on Friday.
— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) November 11, 2023
Totals (NCAA): 5 GP, 3 G, 3 PTS#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/g2qMaZtLhG
Wyatt Schingoethe – F - 7th round – 195th overall – Western Michigan (NCHC)
Schingoethe is a good two-way player and was committed to Denver, but opted to play for Western Michigan. After going pointless in 20 games as a freshman, the 21-year-old played only eight games last season and has not played this season.
Ryan Tverberg – C – 7th round – 213th overall – Toronto (AHL)
Tverberg has been an overwhelming success based on where he was drafted. Originally committed to Harvard, he shifted to the University of Connecticut. After seasons of 32 points and 30 points with the Huskies, the 21-year-old signed an ELC with the Leafs and played at the end of the 2022-23 for the Marlies. The Richmond Hill, ON native started strong with four points (1 goal, 3 assists) in five AHL games, but suffered a lower-body injury in late October and is out week-to-week.
Ryan Tverberg had made a bright start to his rookie campaign before sustaining an injury.
— Mark (@MarkUkLeaf) November 2, 2023
His four points in five games included a first professional goal.
A thread.#MarliesLive#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/cgB7KcEp9p
*******
Please Subscribe to the Off The Post page on YouTube