Be sure to like HockeyBuzz on facebook! For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter With the NHL season likely starting in January or February and the OHL, WHL, USHL, and NCAA seasons in limbo, clubs will be hoping that their top prospects will get some game action in international tournaments that are currently scheduled to take place. The Karjala Cup tournament between Finland, Russia, Sweden, and the Czech Republic takes place in Helsinki next week and two Leafs prospects have been selected to participate. 2020 first rounder Rodion Amirov and fourth-rounder Artur Akhtyamov have been selected for Team Russia.
Team Russia (U20) roster for the Karjala Cup (5th-8th of November). pic.twitter.com/CazShn2Hpg
— Russian Prospects (@RUSProspects) October 23, 2020
The roster choices may be an indicator of who will be selected for the 2021 World Junior Championships in Edmonton, as Russia’s club includes first-rounders Amirov, Yaroslav Askirov, Yegor Chinakhov, and Shakir Mukhamadullin, but the rosters for Finland and Sweden are comprised of 16 and 17-year-olds instead of 18 or 19-year-olds like Alexander Holtz, Lucas Raymond, Anton Lundell, Leafs prospects Mikko Kokkonen (who played for Finland in the WJC last December), or 2020 picks Roni Hirvonen, Topi Niemela or Veeti Miettinen, who are playing in the Swedish Hockey League or Finnish SM-Liiga.
Did Auston Matthews (@AM34) have the greatest NHL debut of all time? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/uhh5FIWjkS
— NHL (@NHL) October 26, 2020
More Convo. Have fun.#TheLeafsConvo#TMLTalk #LeafsForever@MikeInBuffalo @IamNormanJames https://t.co/0KTbFOcwCW pic.twitter.com/XqcZNYfXhp
— The Leafs Convo (@TheLeafsConvo2) October 22, 2020