A pair of Leafs goalie prospects will both get a huge push forward in their development this season
The Toronto Maple Leafs were hard at work this summer, addressing their goaltending needs, acquiring Matt Murray from the Ottawa Senators earlier this off-season and signing Ilya Samsonov on the first day of free agency. Murray's contract takes him all the way to 2024. Samsonov's one year prove it contract is worth just $1.8 million dollars, leaving the Buds in pretty good shape in net for at least this season. This allows the team to let their younger up and coming goalie prospects cook a little longer with their respective teams and in their respective leagues. Two of those netminders currently reside in Russia.
According to Kyle Cushman, Russian netminder Artur Akhtyamov has been loaned to Neftyanik Almetievsk in the VHL. This move will subsequently help fellow prospect Vyacheslav Peksa transition into a starting role for Bars Kazan.
Akhtyamov, 20, is coming off a season with a .912 SV% and a goals against average of 2.69 in 38 games played with the VHL's Bars Kazan. Those numbers aren't flashy, but being moved to a team where Artur will be the clear number one starter will certainly help build his confidence and allow the 2020 fourth round pick to gain some momentum in his pursuit of an NHL job.
Vyacheslav Peksa, 19, will benefit greatly from this move. With Akhtyamov on the move, it will put Peksa in a position to be a clear cut starter and play the lion's share of the games, which will be amazing for the 2021 sixth round pick, who is coming off a season that saw him put up a save percentage of .936 and a goals against average of 1.79 in 56 games for Irbis Kazan of the MHL.
It may only be a junior league stat line, but those numbers are still outstanding and definitely shows the potential in the young Russian tendy. The future is definitely bright for the Leafs in goal.
| POLL | ||
4 AOUT | 316 ANSWERS A pair of Leafs goalie prospects will both get a huge push forward in their development this season Who will reach the NHL first? | ||
| Artur Akhtyamov | 73 | 23.1 % |
| Vyacheslav Peksa | 71 | 22.5 % |
| Neither will make the NHL | 76 | 24.1 % |
| Who?? | 96 | 30.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
