Maple Leafs prospect report: What's next for Topi Niemela, Marshall Rifai and others

As we welcome 2025 with many young players getting their moment in the sun at the World Juniors, its a good time to check in on the development of some Toronto Maple Leafs prospects.

Easton Cowan is having his moment as a top-line winger for Canada.

Beyond the top prospect, were focusing on a few Marlies looking to take the next step in their careers as well as some NCAA -based prospects in the middle of long development paths.

Happy New Year and thanks as always for following The Athletic s Maple Leafs prospects coverage! World Juniors should help Holinka Its been an impressive start to the World Juniors for 2024 fifth-round pick Miroslav Holinka.

The oft-powerful centre has three points in four games for Czechia.

Miroslav Holinka tips the point shot to give Czechia a 1-0 lead early! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/QQ7199w5Kx TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 26, 2024 And the WHLs Edmonton Oil Kings staff hope the confidence Holinka will take from the tournament will lead to more consistency when he returns.

Theres been times where hes looked like a man among boys, Oil Kings assistant coach and former NHL player Kyle Chipchura said.

And then there are stretches where he also looks like a guy getting used to a different style of play and a different lifestyle in general.

Advertisement The Oil Kings want Holinka to become more aggressive on the forecheck and hold onto the puck for longer stretches to get his high-end shot off in better spaces.

Holinkas skill with the puck is evident.

The 19-year-old must understand mistakes are part of the game.

If he can learn to dictate the game, he could continue his improvement in his first North American season.

Niemela must get stronger Remember the 2021 World Juniors, when Topi Niemela had eight points in seven games for Finland and was voted the tournaments top defenceman? Cracking an NHL lineup in four years didnt seem out of the question.

Instead, the puck-moving, right-shot blueliner finds himself in the AHL.

The 22-year-old failed to impress at Leafs training camp.

His points per game has dropped from his rookie AHL season in 2023-24.

And he is now in the final year of his entry-level contract.

Once the high-water mark of the Leafs prospect pool, why isnt Niemela in the NHL four years out from his stellar World Juniors? The very straightforward answer is strength and speed, Maple Leafs assistant general manager Hayley Wickenheiser said.

Watching Niemela this season, too often he gets pushed off the puck while trying to execute creative hockey in the offensive zone.

He has the smarts, and at 6 feet, Niemela isnt tiny.

But he hasnt added enough requisite power in his frame and stride to help him drive play.

And defensively, a lack of power has prevented him from making decisive defensive plays.

Now, adding size during the season is an uphill climb.

But its hard not to sense the organization is starting to wonder whether Niemela can get his body NHL-ready.

His on-ice responsibilities with the Marlies this season appear to have not taken a step, either.

Hes really got to commit to getting his body to a place where hes not going to get pushed off, Wickenheiser said.

Advertisement Niemela has the brain to play NHL games, but a change in managerial philosophy makes his long-term future in Toronto seem more in doubt than ever.

The challenge is to try and rise up and make a very good hockey team, Wickenheiser said.

It stacks the deck against some of the players, but I also think its a great opportunity: If you can continue to improve within the Marlies, theres 31 other teams that are looking for players, too.

If it doesnt work out here, there may be an opportunity somewhere else.

Rifai is getting closer to the NHL Marshall Rifai was called up on Dec.

2 but never made it into game action.

The 6-foot-2, 213-pound defenceman received another call up on Dec.

31 and seems close to becoming a full-time NHL defender.

This season, the elite skater is making a difference in ways he didnt over his first two Marlies campaigns.

Theres an eagerness to make plays with the puck and get active in offensive plays.

And finally, after years of fine-tuning, Rifai is using his penchant for physicality for good.

His needless penalties are down but hes still bothering opposition forwards in smart, timely ways.

Should he get into NHL action, he might be less of a defender who tries not to make mistakes and one more eager to change a game.

The Marlies are focused on improving Rifais decision-making and getting him to dial it back a bit off the ice: theyve found hes so eager in the gym that hes losing weight at a time he shouldnt.

His energy is still turning heads in the organization.

He is a safe bet to play a handful of NHL games in the second half of the season.

Im starting to see the 26-year-old undrafted Rifai more and more as the defence equivalent of Bobby McMann .

Marshall is just willing to do anything.

And you cant say that about every player you work with, Wickenheiser said.

His physical tools are probably as good as anyone in the organization in terms of the way he skates, his fitness level.

His ability to play at the pace of the NHL is not in doubt.

Advertisement Kokkonen needs more snarl After drawing praise from Sheldon Keefe to start training camp last year, Mikko Kokkonen is quietly putting together another stellar AHL season.

The steady, consistent left-shot defenceman looks more comfortable with the puck.

His two-goal performance on Dec.

10 was his first in his AHL career.

Right now, his career trajectory with the Marlies is reminiscent of 2018 fifth-round pick Filip Kral.

During Krals two-year run from 2021 to 2023, the Marlies believed he had tools but he lacked the innate physicality needed for a net-front defender.

Kral was not given a qualifying offer when his entry-level deal was up.

Behind the scenes, those same traits are what the Marlies are trying to inject into the 6-foot, 200-pound Kokkonens game.

Because we have a defence core that is like quite tall, quite big and he is a relatively undersized guy, thats always going to be his challenge, Wickenheiser said.

But I still see him as a legitimate NHL option over time.

In terms of young Marlies defenders who could be called up in case of injury, Id slot Kokkonen at second behind Rifai.

As proven this season, Kokkonen can eat minutes in long shifts and maintain a level of discipline.

That could lead to a sense of trust from Craig Berube, should Kokkonen ever get a call-up.

But Kokkonen is 23, and the clock is ticking.

Hirvonen can will himself to the NHL The Marlies want to see more production from Roni Hirvonen this season, and the 2020 second-round pick is trending in the right direction with 11 points in 26 games.

This comes after he put up 13 points in 37 games last year when a freak eye injury essentially derailed his season.

The puck skills are there.

Can they show up where it matters, on the score sheet? Theres a consistency in his play.

Hes engaged physically and bringing the puck to the centre of the ice more.

Advertisement Hirvonen is in the last year of his entry-level contract.

At 5-foot-10 and 179 pounds, the forward has shown this AHL season that his shot and work ethic could make him a bottom-six NHL fit.

Will those tools find a home in Toronto under this management group, or elsewhere? He will will himself to the NHL in some way, shape or form, Wickenheiser said.

Whether its here or somewhere else, I dont know.

But he has an internal drive and desire to do all the things you should do, on and off the ice.

Added size and strength benefiting Malinoski Hudson Malinoski showed up to Providence College this season looking like a different player.

After being drafted as a 6-foot-1, 174-pound centre in the fifth round of the 2023 draft, Malinoski punched in at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds.

His added size and strength have given him confidence in faceoffs and when attacking the middle of the ice.

Malinoskis ice time is up and hes enjoying more responsibility on the power play in his second college season.

Providence wants Malinoski to improve how he reads unfolding opposition plays.

Getting beat in the neutral zone has been a problem.

Theres also been a focus on his defensive play down low and being more physical in battles.

But Providence believes that will now come.

(Malinoski) needed to put an emphasis on winning a higher percentage of those battles for the puck, those races for loose pucks.

In junior hockey, he won a lot of battles with his stick and now he is winning a lot of those battles with his body, Providence associate coach Joel Beal said.

So you see a theme here with what hes been able to do with added strength.

Voit has to start taking the game to defenders Ty Voits 2023-24 season was supposed to be an exciting professional debut for the playmaking winger.

But injuries and season-ending shoulder surgery in January robbed him of a full campaign.

That makes this season with the ECHLs Cincinnati Cyclones the 2021 fifth-round picks first professional season in many ways.

Advertisement Theres been plenty of video work to get Voit to understand that the organization appreciates his creativity, but theres a time and a place for his oft-risky plays.

(Voit) thinks the game a little too fast for certain other players on his line and that can be a fault sometimes, Cyclones head coach Jason Payne said.

The Cyclones know he can think his way out of problems.

But they also want Voit to move his feet more instead of slowing down and creating perfect plays.

When you stand still, youre looking for your next option.

But the problem is, so is everyone else, Payne said.

Instead, by attacking defenders more, the Cyclones hope Voit will see more efficient plays open up.

That could lead to more offence and eventually a return to the AHL.

Peksa has to buy in to the ECHL Its been another disappointing season for 2021 sixth-round pick Vyacheslav Peksa.

After putting up an .890 save percentage through 27 ECHL games last season, the 2021 sixth-round picks numbers have dipped even further.

Among goalies with at least 10 games played, Peksas .861 save percentage is last in the ECHL.

The organization wants the goalie to improve how he tracks pucks, controls rebounds and makes saves under duress.

But big picture, they want Peksa to understand that even though he might not be playing at his preferred level, such as the AHL, theres an opportunity in front of him.

Wed all like to be in the NHL, but were not.

Lets identify why and lets clean it up, Payne said.

Peksa deserves credit for moving from Russia to a completely new culture St.

Johns, Newfoundland last season as one of the few players to follow the franchise in its move to Cincinnati for this season.

But his game needs to turn and he needs to accept where hes currently playing.

Its just about getting the full buy-in from players, and so they get the message were sending is to benefit them, Payne said.

Advertisement Johansson prepping for the mens game After being selected out of Leksands Under-20 team in the fourth round of the 2024 draft, Victor Johansson made his SHL debut this season.

Hes been practicing frequently with the senior team.

Whenever the injury bug strikes Leksands top six, Johansson has been in line for a call-up.

Its a promising step from a high-risk, high-reward defenceman who is carving out his role.

In his draft season, Johansson wanted to focus on the defensive side of the game to ensure he played regularly.

But what he didnt show last season was his strength in transition and how well he can skate and move the puck.

Thats when his high-end hockey sense emerges.

With his draft year behind him, Johansson is looking more like a mobile player who can influence plays at both ends of the ice.

Leksands wants him to show off more edge in his offensive game and take more calculated risks with the puck.

This year, youre seeing more of the whole package, Leksands general manager and Victors father Thomas Johansson said.

Johansson is in the final season of a junior contract.

He can sign with the Leafs next season and possibly move to the Marlies, or he can return to Leksands either on loan or with an SHL contract to fight for a top-six spot, which is expected.

Moldenhauer waiting for his breakout With just one goal and six points in 15 games, Nick Moldenhauer has been snake-bitten in his second NCAA season.

If he wasnt generating chances, that would be a concern.

But for a player of that talent level, if hes getting chances, theyre going to go in, University of Michigan associate coach Rob Rassey said of the wiry and energetic 2022 third-round pick.

The Michigan coaching staff sees increased confidence and maturity in Moldenhauer compared to his up-and-down freshman season.

The transition from the USHL to college hockey wasnt easy for the right winger.

But Rassey is seeing more understanding from Moldenhauer of what success at the next level of his career might look like.

Advertisement He enjoys the grind and the work, Rassey said.

In fact, he has fun with it.

As a coach, thats all you can ask for.

Miller adds a step to his stride and his offensive game The Harvard University coaching staff is as thrilled with 2020 sixth-round pick Joe Miller as any other player this season.

Miller added explosiveness in his stride this offseason.

Theres more consistent offence in his game (eight points in 10 games) as their new first-line right winger.

Hes holding onto the puck for longer stretches to make more calculated plays.

Even though he stands 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, Miller is engaging more in plays in ugly areas of the ice, too.

Youre seeing (strong offensive play) for longer spurts as opposed to last year, it was a little bit sporadic, Harvard assistant coach James Marcou said.

There will always be concerns about Millers size, but that hes adding more to his game is encouraging for his long-term development.

Keep an eye on him to possibly sign an NHL contract after next season.

(Top photo of Marshall Rifai with the Maple Leafs in April 2024: Claus Andersen / Getty Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.