"Both Topi Niemela and Roni Hirvonen are off to strong starts to their season's in Sweden and Finland respectively, and with the Leafs being in a position where a younger, faster, and having something to prove lineup could serve them well, it's worth considering that contracts for both of these players next season might be the right course of action for Toronto."
"Niemela still isn't putting up his gaudy offensive numbers that drew a lot of attention to him in 2021-22 and that he was able to mirror in his AHL rookie campaign in 2023-24, but his sound positional play and sound puck movement are being utilized from a defensive perspective and it's easy to see a potential in road for him at the bottom of the Leafs lineup card now that the powerplay quarterback of the future expectations have eroded."
"Roni Hirvonen is putting up the best offensive numbers of his career in any league he's played in. The 23-year-old centre has returned to Finland to play for Karpat (Topi Niemela's former Liiga team) and has put up 21 points in 22 games, matching the 21 points that Hirvonen put up last season for the Marlies and he's just seven points off his career best professional hockey season."
Topi Niemela, 23, is playing for the Malmo Redhawks in the SHL and is benefiting from the larger ice surface, which reduces concerns about his smaller stature. Niemela's offensive totals have not matched earlier peaks, but his sound positional play and puck movement are being deployed defensively, suggesting a potential bottom-pair NHL role rather than a future power-play quarterback. Roni Hirvonen, 23, has returned to Finland with Karpat and has 21 points in 22 games, matching his Marlies output and nearing his career professional best. Hirvonen's two-way play, agitation, and relentless effort increase his NHL viability, and both players could fit a younger, faster Maple Leafs lineup and merit contract consideration next season.
Read at TheLeafsNation
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