Robertson hasn't left Canada since May to put himself in the best position to win a job with the #leafs. He loved his world junior experience last year, but told me recently that he's focused on the NHL: "You know every day is kind of a tryout for me." sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/ro…
Nation Sites
The Nation Network
The LeafsNation has no direct affiliation to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Six Maple Leafs prospects set to compete in the World Junior Championships

Photo credit: twitter.com/MapleLeafs
By Nick Richard
Dec 12, 2020, 11:15 ESTUpdated: Dec 12, 2020, 11:14 EST
Team Canada was the first country to unveil their final roster for the upcoming World Junior Championships on Friday afternoon and despite no Leafs being included on the Canadian squad, the organization will still be well represented at the tournament.
The rest of the rosters began to trickle out early Saturday morning and, along with the confirmation that top prospect Nick Robertson will not be joining the American squad, came the news of six Leafs prospects who have been selected to represent their country in the pursuit of WJC Gold.
The Leafs’ most recent first round pick, Rodion Amirov, along with 2019 fourth rounder Mikhail Abramov and and 2020 fourth rounder Artur Akhtyamov will suit up for Russia. Amirov is expected to be one of Russia’s top forwards and he is likely to play on their top line and power play unit while also receiving spot duty on the penalty kill. Abramov, for his part, should fit in on the second or third line for the Russian squad and he will see time on the power play as well. The Russians don’t have the deepest team in the tournament but they might have the best goaltender in Yaroslav Askarov and, barring an injury, Akhtyamov will be lucky to see the crease at all.
The final Russian junior national team roster for the 2021 World Junior Championship in Canada has been revealed! Click on the following link to find out who the management group selected for the tournament: en.fhr.ru/news/item/7355… #RussiaHockey
The Leafs will also be sending three players, including two more of their selections from the 2020 draft, to play for Finland at the WJC. Their third round pick from 2019, Mikko Kokkonen, played in the tournament last year and he will be a part of Finland’s leadership group while playing heavy defensive minutes on their blue line. The two players the Leafs selected after trading down from the 44th overall pick in October’s draft, Roni Hirvonen and Topi Niemela, have also made the Finnish roster. Hirvonen has the versatility to play both center and wing, likely slotting in somewhere in Finland’s middle six. Niemela is already in his second full Liiga season and won’t turn 19 until March so he should be well equipped to handle difficult assignments on Finland’s back end as well.
Finland's 25 man WJC roster
Breaking News
- Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky dives into process behind recruiting Gavin McKenna
- Guy Gadowsky thinks Gavin McKenna is perfect for Toronto: Leafs Morning Take
- 2 Maple Leafs draft picks go unsigned, will re-enter 2026 NHL Entry Draft
- Frederik Andersen reflects on friendships with Mitch Marner, late agent Claude Lemieux ahead of Cup Final
- Luke Haymes deems Marlies’ Game 3 loss ‘just not good enough’, Toronto holds 2-1 series lead
