The young player has improved his skills and is more confident than he was when he first joined the team, which is great news and shows that he is developing. However, he is just 20 years old and has time to grow into the player the Toronto Maple Leafs need him to be. This could mean making an appearance in a few preseason games before being sent to the Toronto Marlies for the season. He is a great option to have as a call-up if needed.
Niemelä, 23, was a third-round pick by the Maple Leafs in 2020 and quickly became one of the organizations most promising prospects with a strong season as a teenager in the SM-Liiga in Finland with Karpat. Niemelä became a top-ranking name in the Leafs system at the 2021 World Juniors when he was named top defenceman at the tournament with eight points in seven games as Finland went on to win the bronze medal.