Leafs Key 2020 WJC Prospects

Russian Prospects:

Mikhail Abramov

Abramov is off to a great start with the Victoriaville Tigres of the QMJHL. as the team’s new captain, Abramov has scored four goals and added 10 assists for 14 points in nine games.

The Maple Leafs drafted Abramov in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL draft with the 115th overall pick. In his draft year, he recorded 16 goals and 38 assists for 54 points in 62 games.

After being drafted, the young Russian went on to score 35 goals and 41 assists for 76 points in 63 games for the Tigres last season. He will be a must-watch on team Russia.

Rodion Amirov

As one of Toronto’s newest prospects, Amirov will be looking to make an impact at the WJC to prove he was worth selecting at 15th overall in the 2019 NHL draft.

So far this season, Amirov has five goals and three assists for eight points in 23 games for Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the KHL. Being on a KHL men’s team is a statement in itself and Amirov is proving he belongs.

He has shown some highlight-reel plays this season and I look forward to seeing if he has any at the WJC.

Artur Akhtyamov

Akhtyamov is the only goaltending prospect the Maple Leafs have at the 2020 WJC and he’s a pretty good one.

Last season he played for Irbis Kazan of the MHL which is sort of the Russian version of the CHL in Canada. During the 2019-20 season, he played in 46 games and posted a 1.80 Goals Against Average (GAA) and a .921 Save Percentage (SV%).

This season he has played in three games for Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL and has a 2.90 GAA and a .904 SV% which are good numbers for such a young goaltender to have in Russia’s top league.

He has also spent some time with Bars Kazan in the VHL this season which is the Russian version of the AHL. With them, he has a 1.58 GAA and a .935 SV% in eight games.

Finnish Prospects:

Mikko Kokkonen

Kokkonen is going to be one of Team Finland’s top defensemen at the WJC this year, so he should see plenty of ice time.

Last season, Kokkonen had 10 points in 39 games for Jukurit of the Finnish Elite League. He also picked up two points in seven games for Team Finland at last year’s WJC.

This year he has three points in 18 games for Jukurit and will be looking to be more productive for team Finland at this year’s WJC.

Roni Hirvonen

Hirvonen was selected by the Maple Leafs in the second round (59th overall) of the 2020 NHL draft.

He recorded 16 points in 52 games for Assat in the Finnish Elite League last season. This year as an alternate captain for Assat, Hirvonen has nine points in 21 games.

Hirvonen, like Kokkonen, should see plenty of ice time for team Finland at this year’s WJC.

Topi Niemela

Niemela is a smart and creative right-shooting defenseman who the Maple Leafs selected in the third round (64th overall) of the 2020 NHL draft.

Last season he had seven points for Karpat in the Finnish Elite League. This season he has three points in nine games for Karpat and also picked up four points in six games for the Karpat under 20 team.

He will be another interesting defenseman to watch for Team Finland at this year’s WJC.

United States Prospects:

Nicholas Robertson

Robertson is waiting to see if and when the NHL season will start. If NHL training camps don’t start until after the WJC tournament, then Robertson will play for Team USA.

Of all the prospects the Maple Leafs have at the 2020 WJC, Robertson is their best. He scored 55 goals and 31 assists for 86 points last season with the Peterborough Petes in the OHL. His 55 goals made him the OHL goals leader.

He will be looking to play a dominating role at the WJC if he ends up playing.

Michael Koster

Koster is a fifth-round pick of the Maple Leafs from the 2019 NHL draft. He will be looking to earn a spot on the blueline for Team USA.

Last season with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, Koster recorded 18 points in 37 games. This season he has two points in five games for the University of Minnesota in his first year of NCAA hockey.

Final Thoughts On These Prospects

The thought of having eight prospects from the Maple Leafs system competing in a tournament such as the WJC is amazing. Each one of these prospects will be looking to either cement their status or improve upon it with everyone watching.

I am personally looking forward to watching Rodion Amirov, Mikhail Abramov, and Mikko Kokkonen. Those three are the prospects to watch for me.

main image credit