Maple Leafs Young Defenseman On The Verge Of Getting Opportunity With Big Club
A young member of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization has been impressive in training camp so far and has caught the eye of Sheldon Keefe.
Kokkonen's Rise to the NHL
Mikko Kokkonen was drafted by the Maple Leafs in 2019 in the third round. Since then, he has played in the SM-Liiga, the AHL, and the ECHL.
With two years left on his entry-level contract, the 22-year-old defenseman has been one of the highlights of the training camp.
Keefe Comments Suggest Big Opportunity Incoming
His head coach, Sheldon Keefe, had some high praise for him.
Per Mark Masters:
Keefe says 22-year-old d-man Mikko Kokkonen "has been maybe the surprise of camp" for him.
"He's been very, very solid all the way through. You look at where he was last year to now, it's been remarkable ... he's kind of been under the radar, but every day he's been very solid."
"He's been very, very solid all the way through. You look at where he was last year to now, it's been remarkable ... he's kind of been under the radar, but every day he's been very solid."
If Kokkonen continues to work hard, don't be surprised if he earns his spot with the Maple Leafs this year or next.
With the current injuries in the defensive unit, Kokkonen might get a chance sooner than later.
| POLL | ||
Do you think Kokkonen will play in the NHL this year? | ||
| Yes | 270 | 66.8 % |
| No | 134 | 33.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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