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Leafs Prospect Update - 2020 Draftees – Part 1
March 11, 2024, 7:27 PM ET [87 Comments]
Mike Augello
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Throughout the season, we will check in on the Toronto Maple Leafs prospects to see how they are progressing. The 2020 Draft included a dozen picks and a great deal of promise.

Here is how the players selected from the 2020 Draft are doing:

Roni Hirvonen – C - 2nd round – 59th overall - Toronto (AHL)



The 22-year-old center had a career-high 28 points in his final season in Liiga for HIFK Helsinki and came over this summer to participate in the club’s rookie development camp. Hirvonen recovered from a scary mid-ice hit and took part in training camp. After playing two AHL games in October, Hirvonen was out of action for over three months with an eye injury but made his return in late January and has six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in 20 games for the Marlies.




Topi Niemela – D - 3rd round – 64th overall – Toronto (AHL)



Niemela has performed well with the Marlies this season, with 29 points (6 goals, 23 assists) in 53 games. Consistency is always an issue with young defensemen, but the fact that the 21-year-old is right-handed and the Leafs have mostly lefty blueliners could put him in the NHL mix at some point next season.




Artur Akhtyamov – G - 4th round – 106th overall – Ak-Bars Kazan (KHL)



The 22-year-old goalie was sharing the duties early in the season with veteran Timur Bilyalov in the KHL. Akhtyamov was excellent as Biyalov’s backup ( 2.51 GAA and .921 save % in 17 games), but with the veteran getting most of the starts, the youngster was sent to Neftyanik Almetievsk of the second-level VHL in December, where he has advanced to the second round of the playoffs.




William Villeneuve – D - 4th round – 122nd overall – Toronto (AHL)



After winning a Memorial Cup and an excellent season with Saint John, Villeneuve went through some growing pains in his first pro season but finished up with 25 points as a rookie with the Marlies. In his sophomore campaign, the 21-year-old blueliner has nearly eclipsed his 2023 offensive totals, with 22 points (2 goals, 20 assists) in 44 games.




Veeti Miettinen – RW – 6th round – 168th overall – St. Cloud St. (NCAA)



Miettinen had a great junior year for St. Cloud State and is trying to make a case for the Leafs to sign him to a pro contract with a strong senior campaign. The 22-year-old winger has set a career-high with 17 goals in 33 games.



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