Leafs bringing highly-touted goaltending prospect to North America
Photo credit: Steven Ellis - Daily Faceoff
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltending prospect Artur Akhtyamov is expected to leave his KHL team and continue his development with the Leafs organization in North America next season.
The 2020 fourth-round pick of the Leafs has spent the last four seasons bouncing between the KHL, VHL and MHL in AK Bars' system, but appears to be ready to join the Leafs organization. At 6'1 and 168 pounds, the 22-year-old can certainly add some size to his frame, but the lack of it has yet to affect his play.
In his first extended stint in the KHL, Akhtyamov played in 17 games for Ak Bars where he went 6-7-0 but posted an astounding .921 save percentage and 2.51 GAA.
Akhtyamov signed his 3-year entry-level contract with the Leafs last off-season, but was loaned to the KHL this past season. Dobber Prospects reporter Curtis Rines provided the following observation about him in March of this year.
"Although posting a .921 save percentage in 17 KHL games, Akhtyamov was sent down to the VHL in the second half of the season. With Neftyanik Almetievsk, Akhtyamov had a 2.00 GAA and .927 save percentage in 19 VHL regular season contests. Considering the fact that he has pretty clearly established that he should be in the KHL full-time, if that opportunity does not seem present in 2024-25, Toronto should consider bringing him over to North America."
Based on the notes from Rines, it appears that there is no opportunity for Akhtyamov full-time in the KHL, or at least not right now, and it appears as though the Leafs organization is not taking any chances with his development.
Akhtyamov joins the likes of Dennis Hildeby and Vyacheslav Peksa in North America and now gives the Leafs three very intriguing goaltending prospects along with RFA Keith Petruzzelli. After not having much goaltending depth in the system for years, the Leafs now have a handful of potential long-term options available to them to develop.
Source: Dobber Prospects
Akhtyamov Dobber Prospects Profile
Akhtyamov Dobber Prospects Profile
| POLL | ||
JUIN 26 | 591 ANSWERS Leafs bringing highly-touted goaltending prospect to North America Is Artur Akhtyamov a future NHL goalie? | ||
| Yes | 291 | 49.2 % |
| No | 57 | 9.6 % |
| Not sure | 243 | 41.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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