Post by Toronto Maple Leafs on Mar 2, 2022 15:18:34 GMT -6
From the Office of the General Manager Vince Gibbons for immediate release:
With today being the official halfway point of the season I wanted to get out and address a few things that have been going on in our organization. Firstly, the Toronto Maple Leafs are very pleased to announce two key extensions today. It is exciting to be able to change these young men and their families lives today. Both have been great assets for our organization and it is pleasing to make these announcements.
First off, Nino Niederreiter today signed a new deal. His new deal is $7,140,000 for the next two season that will help keep this core together and ideally competitive. Our organization is ecstatic to lock up another key piece of our roster for the next two seasons. With our center depth locked up for the next few seasons and our defensive corps coming along, our wing depth has been a priority to build out over the next couple of seasons. Keeping Nino in the fold is an important step in providing long term options for our coaching staff. Nieds is on pace for a 25 goal season this year playing in our middle six and second powerplay unit.
Top farm player and Center Michael Amadio also signed a 4 year extension with the organization. We wanted to show him a commitment from our side that he has a key role in our organization going forward. We hope that while leading our farm and helping develop our young players he should be able to establish himself as bottom six and viable option for Trotz over the length of his deal. He has been exceptional at the farm level, he is in the top 10 in scoring with 21 goals and 22 assists already in just 35 games. Expectations have risen for Amadio with our organization and rewarding him with this deal shows everyone on the farm that quality efforts and big steps forward like we have seen from him will be rewarded.
Additionally at this time we wanted to share that we reached out to our highly valued and excellent young man Rodion Amirov. Obviously the medical news this week was very sad and we stand with the young man, hoping for a positive outcome. The full resources of our organization will be made available to him to ensure he gets the best possible health care and opportunity to recover. For those who have not heard see below for an in depth interview with our promising talent.
www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-prospect-amirov-brain-tumor-diagnosis-want-stay-positive/
On the topic of promising talent the Maples Leafs are pleased with the develop and drafting of some our key prospects over the previous season.
1. Marco Rossi is a 20 year old that has been incredibly productive down the middle of the ice in the AHL this year. His 15 goals and 25 assists have him right on a point per game pace. He will be in the NHL a year from now full time and likely playing a key role as his overall game impresses in each viewing. A strong candidate for an NHL re-rate over the next couple of seasons but he likely joins the PFHL farm for the Leafs next season.
2. Matthew Coronato started the season shot out of a cannon. Joining Harvard for his freshman season the young man has been torching the ECAC. He is the youngest player on the Harvard roster and is 2nd in goals, tied for 3rd in points. He looks the part of a dominant College player but we expect him back in College for another year.
3. Rodion Amirov obviously has things larger than hockey going on right now he is focused on that. We are so impressed with the type of person and character he has shown in dealing with this adversity. When hockey comes back to front of mind for him we will be happy to sit down with him and find the right fit. 10 Goals before his 20th birthday in the KHL shows there is some real offensive promise with he kid and we look forward to a day when he is back on the ice.
4. Wyatt Johnston is really breaking through. There was always going to be good value later in the draft when it came to OHL players that didn’t get on the ice in any meaningful way. Johnston is a guy who in a re-draft would go in the front half of the first round. A steal at 23. His 85 points in 46 games is leading the league and he looks like another astute selection for the Maple Leafs.
5. Fedor Svechkov is another solid Russian player who went in the first round. He has a solid two-way game and really controls the middle of the ice. His skill levels might not be as high as those mentioned above but his production and team value are high. His is a high floor guy who looks like he could start on a 3rd line in the NHL in the not to distant future.
6. Topi Niemela is one of the top defenders in Finnish league and is just 19 years old. His puck handling, decision making and skill with the puck make him a true offensive weapon. Great passing opens up defenses and makes him a high value prospect in the organization
7. Matthew Knies is a big strong College Freshman who suited up for the USA at the most recent Olympics. He is great shooter with some decent skills that should fit into a middle six after a successful college career.
8. Roni Hirvonen was a member of the Finn’s WJC team that played for 5 minutes in Alberta before Covid and some poor planning shut it all down. He is small speedy and fits the mold of the typical Finnish forward these days.
9. Ian Scott has been a bit lost this year. Injury and Covid have limited him to just one start and while he hasn’t impacted things yet he is one of the more needed guys in terms of prospects. The crease behind Markstrom is anything but stable.
10. “My boy is Wicked Smaart” is how Ben Affleck would describe another Harvard player. He is a play maker whos vision and puck control make him difficult to contain. Does his scoring continue at the next level or does he fit more into a middle six role.
Lastly I will discuss the trade deadline. We are looking to add, ideally we would find a long term back up that could stabilize our crease situation. Additionally we could take on another winger. Our top picks in this year’s draft are certainly open for negotiation so don’t hesitate to reach out. Good luck to all GM’s and franchises in the second half of the season.
With today being the official halfway point of the season I wanted to get out and address a few things that have been going on in our organization. Firstly, the Toronto Maple Leafs are very pleased to announce two key extensions today. It is exciting to be able to change these young men and their families lives today. Both have been great assets for our organization and it is pleasing to make these announcements.
First off, Nino Niederreiter today signed a new deal. His new deal is $7,140,000 for the next two season that will help keep this core together and ideally competitive. Our organization is ecstatic to lock up another key piece of our roster for the next two seasons. With our center depth locked up for the next few seasons and our defensive corps coming along, our wing depth has been a priority to build out over the next couple of seasons. Keeping Nino in the fold is an important step in providing long term options for our coaching staff. Nieds is on pace for a 25 goal season this year playing in our middle six and second powerplay unit.
Top farm player and Center Michael Amadio also signed a 4 year extension with the organization. We wanted to show him a commitment from our side that he has a key role in our organization going forward. We hope that while leading our farm and helping develop our young players he should be able to establish himself as bottom six and viable option for Trotz over the length of his deal. He has been exceptional at the farm level, he is in the top 10 in scoring with 21 goals and 22 assists already in just 35 games. Expectations have risen for Amadio with our organization and rewarding him with this deal shows everyone on the farm that quality efforts and big steps forward like we have seen from him will be rewarded.
Additionally at this time we wanted to share that we reached out to our highly valued and excellent young man Rodion Amirov. Obviously the medical news this week was very sad and we stand with the young man, hoping for a positive outcome. The full resources of our organization will be made available to him to ensure he gets the best possible health care and opportunity to recover. For those who have not heard see below for an in depth interview with our promising talent.
www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-prospect-amirov-brain-tumor-diagnosis-want-stay-positive/
On the topic of promising talent the Maples Leafs are pleased with the develop and drafting of some our key prospects over the previous season.
1. Marco Rossi is a 20 year old that has been incredibly productive down the middle of the ice in the AHL this year. His 15 goals and 25 assists have him right on a point per game pace. He will be in the NHL a year from now full time and likely playing a key role as his overall game impresses in each viewing. A strong candidate for an NHL re-rate over the next couple of seasons but he likely joins the PFHL farm for the Leafs next season.
2. Matthew Coronato started the season shot out of a cannon. Joining Harvard for his freshman season the young man has been torching the ECAC. He is the youngest player on the Harvard roster and is 2nd in goals, tied for 3rd in points. He looks the part of a dominant College player but we expect him back in College for another year.
3. Rodion Amirov obviously has things larger than hockey going on right now he is focused on that. We are so impressed with the type of person and character he has shown in dealing with this adversity. When hockey comes back to front of mind for him we will be happy to sit down with him and find the right fit. 10 Goals before his 20th birthday in the KHL shows there is some real offensive promise with he kid and we look forward to a day when he is back on the ice.
4. Wyatt Johnston is really breaking through. There was always going to be good value later in the draft when it came to OHL players that didn’t get on the ice in any meaningful way. Johnston is a guy who in a re-draft would go in the front half of the first round. A steal at 23. His 85 points in 46 games is leading the league and he looks like another astute selection for the Maple Leafs.
5. Fedor Svechkov is another solid Russian player who went in the first round. He has a solid two-way game and really controls the middle of the ice. His skill levels might not be as high as those mentioned above but his production and team value are high. His is a high floor guy who looks like he could start on a 3rd line in the NHL in the not to distant future.
6. Topi Niemela is one of the top defenders in Finnish league and is just 19 years old. His puck handling, decision making and skill with the puck make him a true offensive weapon. Great passing opens up defenses and makes him a high value prospect in the organization
7. Matthew Knies is a big strong College Freshman who suited up for the USA at the most recent Olympics. He is great shooter with some decent skills that should fit into a middle six after a successful college career.
8. Roni Hirvonen was a member of the Finn’s WJC team that played for 5 minutes in Alberta before Covid and some poor planning shut it all down. He is small speedy and fits the mold of the typical Finnish forward these days.
9. Ian Scott has been a bit lost this year. Injury and Covid have limited him to just one start and while he hasn’t impacted things yet he is one of the more needed guys in terms of prospects. The crease behind Markstrom is anything but stable.
10. “My boy is Wicked Smaart” is how Ben Affleck would describe another Harvard player. He is a play maker whos vision and puck control make him difficult to contain. Does his scoring continue at the next level or does he fit more into a middle six role.
Lastly I will discuss the trade deadline. We are looking to add, ideally we would find a long term back up that could stabilize our crease situation. Additionally we could take on another winger. Our top picks in this year’s draft are certainly open for negotiation so don’t hesitate to reach out. Good luck to all GM’s and franchises in the second half of the season.
