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What happened to Topi Niemela

Created by: jonh514
Team: 2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs
Initial Creation Date: Nov. 21, 2022
Published: Nov. 21, 2022
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
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NOT A TROLL POST.

I was pretty hot on this kid at the WJC. He had an amazing year last season. Seems like his offence has really dropped off this season in Karpat. Does anyone know why? Is he hurt?
Trades
TOR
  1. Kidney, Riley
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Obligatory trade
MTL
  1. Niemelä, Topi
Additional Details:
Obligatory trade
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Nov. 21, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.
#1
Hakuna Matata
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Topi is more of a defensive D and Karpat's offense has dropped which is why his offense dropped

Still has a big role with them and plays tough minutes so I got 0 concerns
Nov. 21, 2022 at 6:01 p.m.
#2
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HuGo is a Boss GM
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Quoting: aadoyle
Topi is more of a defensive D and Karpat's offense has dropped

Still has a big role with them and plays tough minutes so I got 0 concerns


It's a big drop off though, over a fairly large sample size. It's kinda concerning.
Nov. 21, 2022 at 6:07 p.m.
#3
Hakuna Matata
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Quoting: jonh514
It's a big drop off though, over a fairly large sample size. It's kinda concerning.


If u compare Karpat last year to this year the team is worse offensively

As for the points thats not why he was drafted. As we dont need more offensive D. Points will come here and there but for what he is doing rn in Liiga I got 0 concerns. As hes playing tough minutes and the coach trusts him. Could push for a spot in 2023 if he has a good camp
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Nov. 21, 2022 at 6:23 p.m.
#4
Hurricane Waddell
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Bottomi Niemela?
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Nov. 21, 2022 at 6:32 p.m.
#5
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Quoting: aadoyle
If u compare Karpat last year to this year the team is worse offensively

As for the points thats not why he was drafted. As we dont need more offensive D. Points will come here and there but for what he is doing rn in Liiga I got 0 concerns. As hes playing tough minutes and the coach trusts him. Could push for a spot in 2023 if he has a good camp


Alright. Thanks for your perspective.
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Nov. 21, 2022 at 6:32 p.m.
#6
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Quoting: Caniac555
Bottomi Niemela?


I LOL'd for what it's worth.
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Nov. 21, 2022 at 6:35 p.m.
#7
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Quoting: aadoyle
If u compare Karpat last year to this year the team is worse offensively

As for the points thats not why he was drafted. As we dont need more offensive D. Points will come here and there but for what he is doing rn in Liiga I got 0 concerns. As hes playing tough minutes and the coach trusts him. Could push for a spot in 2023 if he has a good camp


To hear a lot of Leaf's fans tell it, he's gonna be a 1st pair defensemen in the NHL. Is that your perspective as well? Doesn't a 1st pair guy kinda have to bring offence as well as defense?
Nov. 21, 2022 at 6:42 p.m.
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Quoting: aadoyle
If u compare Karpat last year to this year the team is worse offensively

As for the points thats not why he was drafted. As we dont need more offensive D. Points will come here and there but for what he is doing rn in Liiga I got 0 concerns. As hes playing tough minutes and the coach trusts him. Could push for a spot in 2023 if he has a good camp


they are scoring .09 goals per game less than last year thats not a noticeable drop. Niemela is the one who isnt producing defensively not the team.
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Nov. 21, 2022 at 6:44 p.m.
#9
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Quoting: Black61
they are scoring .09 goals per game less than last year thats not a noticeable drop. Niemela is the one who isnt producing defensively not the team.


Offensively?
Nov. 21, 2022 at 6:48 p.m.
#10
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Yeah, this was expected. Karpat switched coaches (I believe towards the end of last year) and Topi's usage as well as the team's systems changed in an un-fun way. Not too concerned about it, tbh, but it's kind of a bummer.
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Nov. 21, 2022 at 7:02 p.m.
#11
Owly
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Quoting: jonh514
It's a big drop off though, over a fairly large sample size. It's kinda concerning.


He went from getting top PP minutes and lots of o zone starts to being counted on as the top defensive player. He's not going to be a huge offensive contributor but a very solid 2 way defender. No concerns here. He's going to be a good player without a doubt.
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Nov. 21, 2022 at 7:03 p.m.
#12
Hakuna Matata
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Quoting: LeafsFanForSomeReason
Yeah, this was expected. Karpat switched coaches (I believe towards the end of last year) and Topi's usage as well as the team's systems changed in an un-fun way. Not too concerned about it, tbh, but it's kind of a bummer.


The coach does trust him in certain situations but does not allow him to do his rush plays that were always leading to offense. Honestly if he had 5 more assists rarely anyone would be going whats going on as 3 goals and 7 assists for a young Dman like him would not be a bad thing. Either way his defensive play is good and he could always pick up his offense at the second half of the season. We have seen it so many times
Nov. 21, 2022 at 7:06 p.m.
#13
Hakuna Matata
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Quoting: jonh514
To hear a lot of Leaf's fans tell it, he's gonna be a 1st pair defensemen in the NHL. Is that your perspective as well? Doesn't a 1st pair guy kinda have to bring offence as well as defense?


He will but it takes time. You cant just go here's the top no no no. Start slow and move up. Like what we saw in Liiga they used him sparingly, he got better, then they used him more and he got better. Having a new coach this year does change some things and how hes deployed but hes done well so far. Would not surprise me if in 2023 he starts third pair (has to have a good camp but its not out of the question)

Like Liligren development is needed to get the best out of someone
Nov. 21, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.
#14
Ovchinnikov 137
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His points are down this year but some of it has been the result of poor shooting luck at times, as he has a 56.4 CF% but an on-ice shooting percentage of just 8.5%. Last year, he posted a 50.0 CF% but his on-ice shooting percentage was 12%.

He may not be a top-pairing guy but he still has legitimate top-four potential.
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Nov. 21, 2022 at 7:39 p.m.
#15
Owly
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Quoting: jonh514
To hear a lot of Leaf's fans tell it, he's gonna be a 1st pair defensemen in the NHL. Is that your perspective as well? Doesn't a 1st pair guy kinda have to bring offence as well as defense?


That is generally the definition of a true #1. Niemela is going to be more if a two way responsible guy. Like Brodie
Nov. 21, 2022 at 8:25 p.m.
#16
Smythe.over.Hart
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Quoting: jonh514
To hear a lot of Leaf's fans tell it, he's gonna be a 1st pair defensemen in the NHL. Is that your perspective as well? Doesn't a 1st pair guy kinda have to bring offence as well as defense?


Jeremy Bracco is gonna be a top winger yet according to some leaf fans.
 
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