Draft day trade revisited; Dubas fleeces the Sens for two Finnish stars
The 2020 NHL draft may go down as Kyle Dubas' best so far. After losing out in the play-in round of the NHL's expanded playoff format in the Toronto bubble, the Leafs were technically a lottery team. Their first round pick, which had been traded to Carolina, ended up being number 13, which the Canes used on Seth Jarvis.
In order to clear some valuable cap space and move back into the first round, Dubas sent Kasperi Kapanen to Pittsburgh in exchange for the 15th overall pick, Evan Rodrigues' RFA rights, prospect Filip Hallander and a minor league defenseman. Dubas used that 15th pick to select Russian winger Rodion Amirov. A great trade for the Leafs, but not as good as the one Dubas made next.
The Leafs' second round pick, 44th overall, was traded to Ottawa in exchange for the 59th overall pick and the 64th pick. This trade was an absolute fleece job by Dubas. The Senators used the 44th pick to select Tyler Kleven, a 6'3, 200lb defenseman from North Dakota. Dubas used his two new picks to select a pair of Finnish youngsters in center Roni Hirvonen and defenseman Topi Niemela.
While undersized, both Hirvonen and Niemela fit the bill for what Dubas looks for in mid round picks, highly skilled, high ceiling players. Size, in Dubas' eyes, is not as important as playing ability.
So far, the trade appears to have ended up as a resounding win for the Leafs. Kleven has played 19 games this season with the University of North Dakota, and has registered 4 goals and 2 assists for a very pedestrian 6 points. These are fine numbers for University hockey, but not nearly what one would expect from a player drafted in the second round who's team gave up 2 picks just to have a shot at. Kleven will be the USA's second pairing LD at the World Juniors, while Niemela, a right-handed offensive defenseman, is playing on the top pair for Finland.
Niemela has been absolutely lethal playing for Karpat in the Finnish Liiga this season, racking up 6 goals and 18 assists for 24 points, good enough to lead all defensemen in points. The last defenceman to put up points like this at his age in the SM Liiga was none other than Teppo Numminen, a veteran of over 1000 NHL games.
The 19-year-old blueliner is a fantastic powerplay quarterback and will play a leadership role for the 2022 Finnish U20 team at the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships in Red Deer. Last year, Niemela was named the top defenceman in the tournament as an 18-year-old. By all appearances, it doesn't appear that Niemela is too far away from a move to North America to play for the AHL's Toronto Marlies.
Hirvonen will also be suiting up for Finland at the WJC tournament, wearing a 'C' on his chest. Hirvonen may be small, but he has a nose for the net and is a relentless puck hound. He has a hard, accurate wrist shot and can score from a distance as well.
Hirvonen will be relied upon to score big goals in big moments, like his OT winner against the US team Thursday. So far this season with HIFK-Helsinki the 19-year-old pivot has put up 6 goals and 10 assists in 28 games. Look for him on the top line for the Finland when the tournament kicks off on Boxing Day.
So far, that trade at the 2020 draft table looks to be paying off in spades for Dubas and the Leafs. The next step for both Finnish phenoms is the AHL. But for now, we'll settle for watching them shine at the World Juniors, where they'll kick off the tournament at noon Boxing Day against Germany.
