Has the development window passed for this Leafs prospect?

"As mentioned, there were expectations for him to be a top blueliner on the Leafs, along with former young prospect Rasmus Sandin, who was also envisioned as a top blueliner for the team. Niemela was mainly praised for the way he moves the puck as a defenceman. He also showed great vision and was able to make a pass whenever it was possible. He was also seen as someone who wasn't afraid to take a shot on goal and walk into the slot."

"This season, for the Malmö Redhawks of the SHL (Swedish Hockey League), Niemela has 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 43 games played. Those totals make him the second-highest-scoring blueliner on the Redhawks so far this season, but those numbers are much less than what Niemela is capable of putting up. In his last five games played, he has put up only two points (a goal and an assist) and three points (two goals, one assist) in his last 10 games played."

"His development looked promising when he spent two seasons (2023-25) in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. In the 2023-24 season, Niemela put up 39 points (eight goals, 31 assists), which led the team in points and goals by a blueliner, as well as third on the team in assists and sixth on the team in points. A season like that from Niemela is what the Leafs have already hoped they would get from the youngster in the NHL."

Topi Niemelä was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round (64th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft. Expectations placed him alongside Rasmus Sandin as a potential top-pairing blueliner for the Leafs. Niemelä earned praise for his puck-moving, vision, passing and willingness to shoot and enter the slot. He recorded 39 points (eight goals, 31 assists) in 2023-24 with the Toronto Marlies, leading AHL blueliners on the team. This season with the Malmö Redhawks he has 15 points in 43 games, showing a decline in recent production and raising doubts about his NHL trajectory.

Read at Editor In Leaf