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

[BertCorbeau]

Click to read more...

 

[IceColdOx]

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/

 

[Subway Schenn]

Yesssssss.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Excellent

 

[Kelly]

Yeah but how many inches is he

 

[nonikhanna]

Man all these europeans... Seems like we are picking players that will be playing in the upcoming year

 

[stickty111]

Love this pick. I was torn between him and Cormier, so I'm happy.
He was 23rd on my board

 

[Morgs]

Great pick again. Loving this draft.

 

[Cor]

Ranked 38th by McKenzie

 

[Schenn]

We're going all Euro, all our new prospects are playing hockey this year.

 

[PromoterDave]

Love this pick

 

[Patmac40]

Absolutely love this pick. Still raw but looks really good in the pro levels already without any muscle on him.

 

[stickty111]

 

[kk87]

Really good pick at this point. Couldn't go wrong with Niemela, Poirier, or Cormier.

Niemela and Hirvonen for Kleven is hilarious.

 

[7even]

 

[Nooodles]

Yeah but how many inches is he

6'0

So a smurf.

 

[Cor]

Uh oh.

This gonna make some people mad

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Really wanted Sebrango (went 63) but this seems like a good pick.

 

[TMLegend]

156 pounds. Holy smokes. Needs to add significant weight to that frame.

 

[Menzinger]

 

[Ricky Bobby]

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]

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.

 

[stickty111]

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Hit the gym buddy.

love the pick though

 

[kevsh]

"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.