Two Leafs goaltending prospects could soon be without a team in Russia
Due to heavy economic sanctions placed on Russia in order to combat their invasion of Ukraine, KHL team Ak Bars Kazan is preparing to shut down their VHL affiliate team. This means Leafs prospects Artur Ahktyamov and Vyacheslav Peksa will have to find new teams to play for starting next season.
Ak Bars denies that anything is going on, but multiple reports to the contrary have surfaced since. As with anything coming from the KHL right now, the "official" story and the real story are often 2 very different things.
As for the Leafs, they'll likely have to find new homes for their duo of promising young Russian goaltenders. Depending on how the off-season goes, there aren't many slots available in the Leafs organization for goalies. Mrazek and Källgren are signed through next season, Campbell is likely to re-sign, Joe Woll is an RFA. Keith Petruzzelli has had a fantastic season in Newfoundland and will be looking for an AHL deal.
Moving Mrazek opens up a spot, but that may prove difficult. Dubas will likely have to try to find Akhtyamov and Peska homes in the Finnish or Swedish leagues until there is an opportunity to bring them into the fold in Toronto. Another option may be to bring one of them over to North America and start them out in the ECHL, if the plan is to elevate Petruzzelli to the AHL next season.
With the Leafs goaltending future in flux, it's imperative that Dubas and company do everything they can to give each of their goalie prospects the best possible chance of finding success.
| POLL | ||
23 MARS | 141 ANSWERS Two Leafs goaltending prospects could soon be without a team in Russia Will the Leafs be able to find new homes for Peksa and Akhtyamov for next season? | ||
| Yes | 51 | 36.2 % |
| No | 24 | 17 % |
| Trade them both | 29 | 20.6 % |
| Get them both out of Russia | 37 | 26.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
