Opinion: A strong showing at the WJC will solidify Topi Niemela's spot on Finland's Olympic team
Topi Niemela has exceeded the expectations of Leafs fans ever since he was drafted in the 3rd round in 2020. The 19-year-old defenceman currently is 10th in scoring and 2nd for defenders in the Finnish Liiga. He currently has 24 points in 31 games for Kärpät and is about to represent Finland and wear a letter at the World Juniors in Red Deer, Alberta.
Niemela returns to the World Juniors after winning both a bronze medal and being named the best defenceman of the tournament. Last year, Niemela showed off his abilities as an offensive weapon at the tournament and being a right-handed shot makes him even more valuable for the Leafs, who are currently not as strong on the right side as they could be.
Expectations are high for both Niemela and Team Finland at the World Juniors this year. Finland has 10 players returning from last years bronze medal team and are looking to finish higher this time around.
Niemela is expected to be in the running for best defenceman at the World Juniors again in 2022, but it doesn't end there. A strong showing at the World Juniors could do even more for his resume than initially thought.
With the NHL pulling out of the Olympics, the bulk of the players going will be players from European leagues. Niemela is having an outstanding season playing against men with Kärpät. His offensive abilities should make him an intriguing piece for the Fins in Beijing.
One of the things that could keep Niemela off of Finland's Olympic team is his age, but Finland has selected young players for their blueline in the past, such as Sami Vatanen and Olli Maatta in 2014, or when they took a 19-year-old Miro Heiskanen in 2018.
If Niemela can continue his strong play with Kärpät and put on another great showing at the World Juniors, there is no doubt in my mind that Niemela will not only make Team Finland at the Olympics but will also play a key role for them.
