Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Two Finnish Prospects to ELCs

The Maple Leafs' salary cap situation is no secret, but Kyle Dubas has done a great job stockpiling the Leafs' system with an array of promising young players. With several players likely being dismissed citing cap reasons, the team will need to insulate their roster with affordable young talent.


C Roni Hirvonen, 20, scored 26 points in 46 matches for Helsinki of the Finnish Liiga. Those totals might not jump off the page, but for a 20 year-old in a men's pro league it's a solid stat line. Hirvonen was drafted 59th overall by Toronto in 2020.

D Topi Niemela, on the other hand, amassed 32 points in 48 games, which is kind of insane for a 20 year-old defenseman. The Leafs' 2020 3rd round pick (64th overall) looks promising & could very well see NHL action over the next year or two.