<p>Daily Faceoff&#8217;s Steven Ellis has named Toronto Maple Leafs&#8217; Topi Niemela as a prospect who could be traded before the March 7 trade deadline.</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-nhl-trade-deadline-nine-prospects-who-could-be-on-the-move">Ellis listed nine prospects</a> who he felt could use a change of scenery, as crowded depth charts have factored into their development, and with the Maple Leafs contending for a Stanley Cup this season, Ellis feels Niemela could be used in a package for GM Brad Treliving to upgrade his roster. &#8220;Niemelä has been one of Toronto’s top prospects for about half a decade now, but he still hasn’t seen any NHL action to date,&#8221; stated Ellis in the Jan.28 report.</p>
<p>&#8220;Under GM Brad Treliving, the team has looked to add grit and size to the back end, so the six-foot Niemelä has been slightly lost in the shuffle. He has also taken a step back production-wise with the Marlies while not showing a ton of progress with and without the puck, either.&#8221;</p>
<p>Originally a 2020 third-round pick, the 22-year-old Niemela has appeared in 32 games for the Marlies this season, yet to score a goal, but has added 12 assists. Last year was his first full season playing North American pro hockey, and Niemela posted a solid campaign with the Marlies, tallying 39 points in 68 games. Unfortunately, this season the Oulu, Finland native hasn&#8217;t been able to take the next step and has yet to be considered for a callup this year for the Leafs.</p>
<p>&#8220;A fantastic showing during the two-game series against the Montreal Canadiens in September turned some heads, which is nice. Niemelä doesn’t have explosive speed and isn’t outstanding in any other skill – instead, he beats defenders with his play-reads and ability to get the puck out of the zone,&#8221; states Ellis.</p>
<p>&#8220;The Leafs should be willing to move on from him at the deadline, even if Niemela wouldn’t bring back the type of impact player that Easton Cowan would.&#8221;</p>
<p>With Philippe Myers and Jake McCabe both extended, Chris Tanev not going anywhere, and Conor Timmins and Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the mix as options for the right side of the Leafs&#8217; blueline, Niemela is stuck, with no place to go.</p>
<p>Treliving doesn&#8217;t love undersized defencemen, and at just 6-foot, and 181 pounds, it makes a ton of sense for the Maple Leafs to try and cash in on Niemela&#8217;s untapped potential, and land a proven NHLer, who is going to help them heading into, what the team hopes, is a long Stanley Cup Playoff run.</p>
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Daily Faceoff's Steven Ellis has named Toronto Maple Leafs' Topi Niemela as a prospect who could be traded before the March 7 trade deadline.
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<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-nhl-trade-deadline-nine-prospects-who-could-be-on-the-move">Ellis listed nine prospects</a> who he felt could use a change of scenery, as crowded depth charts have factored into their development, and with the Maple Leafs contending for a Stanley Cup this season, Ellis feels Niemela could be used in a package for GM Brad Treliving to upgrade his roster. "Niemelä has been one of Toronto’s top prospects for about half a decade now, but he still hasn’t seen any NHL action to date," stated Ellis in the Jan.28 report.

"Under GM Brad Treliving, the team has looked to add grit and size to the back end, so the six-foot Niemelä has been slightly lost in the shuffle. He has also taken a step back production-wise with the Marlies while not showing a ton of progress with and without the puck, either."

Originally a 2020 third-round pick, the 22-year-old Niemela has appeared in 32 games for the Marlies this season, yet to score a goal, but has added 12 assists. Last year was his first full season playing North American pro hockey, and Niemela posted a solid campaign with the Marlies, tallying 39 points in 68 games. Unfortunately, this season the Oulu, Finland native hasn't been able to take the next step and has yet to be considered for a callup this year for the Leafs.

"A fantastic showing during the two-game series against the Montreal Canadiens in September turned some heads, which is nice. Niemelä doesn’t have explosive speed and isn’t outstanding in any other skill – instead, he beats defenders with his play-reads and ability to get the puck out of the zone," states Ellis.

"The Leafs should be willing to move on from him at the deadline, even if Niemela wouldn’t bring back the type of impact player that Easton Cowan would."

With Philippe Myers and Jake McCabe both extended, Chris Tanev not going anywhere, and Conor Timmins and Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the mix as options for the right side of the Leafs' blueline, Niemela is stuck, with no place to go.

Treliving doesn't love undersized defencemen, and at just 6-foot, and 181 pounds, it makes a ton of sense for the Maple Leafs to try and cash in on Niemela's untapped potential, and land a proven NHLer, who is going to help them heading into, what the team hopes, is a long Stanley Cup Playoff run.

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