.@SportChek Player Alert: The @MapleLeafs have signed defenceman Teemu Kivihalme to a one-year entry level contract. Details >> atnhl.com/302bebz #LeafsForever
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Leafs sign defenceman Teemu Kivihalme
Photo credit: Colorado College
May 7, 2019, 12:34 EDT
Well, we’re not going to pretend we know any more than you.
But the Leafs made another transaction today, signing 23-year old lefty defenceman Teemu Kivihalme.
From the team’s official release:
Kivihalme, 23, spent the 2018-19 season with Karpat of Finland’s Liiga. In 60 games during the 2018-19 season, Kivihalme recorded nine goals and 21 assists for 30 points, which ranked ninth among Liiga defencemen in scoring. He added nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) in 16 playoff games, which was the third highest point total among Liiga defencemen in the postseason. In Champions League play during 2018-19, Kivihalme recorded five points (2-3-5) in 10 games. Over two Liiga seasons, Kivihalme recorded 50 points (13 goals, 37 assists) in 104 career games, while adding nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) in 34 playoff games, capturing the Liiga championship in 2017-18 and collecting a silver medal in 2018-19.
From our own Nick DeSouza:
Teemu Kivihalme is a 23-year-old LD from Finland. He also has done a "salt bae" celebration after scoring an OT winner. That's good enough for me.
Kivihalme was actually born in the States, likely in some relation to his father, Janne, who has played and coached in the country since at least the mid-90s.
He was also at the Bruins development camp last season. Credit Mike Cratty for some info:
Here's a blurb I wrote about Kivihalme over the summer, for anyone interested in the latest edition to Bruins' most heated rival:
Teemu’s career stats are below:
In terms of the Leafs’ depth chart next year, he slots in behind well, Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin, Travis Dermott, and ____? Rasmus Sandin? Calle Rosen? Andreas Borgman?
Kivihalme likely starts with the Marlies in the fall, but what do we know?
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