Toronto Maple Leafs: Is Artur Akhtyamov the Goalie of the Future?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a bunch of goaltenders in their system.

Sometimes, it’s easy to forget about prospects when they’re not playing in North America for the Toronto Maple Leafs or their AHL affiliate. This could be the case for some regarding prospect goaltender Artur Akhtyamov.

The Leafs drafted Akhtyamov in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL draft with the 106th overall pick. The Russian-born goaltender will be 22 years old on October 31st. Most goaltenders take a while to develop into full-time NHL goaltenders.

The Leafs do not need to rush Akhtyamov. They have more than enough goaltender depth in their system that they can afford to be patient.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Is Artur Akhtyamov the Goalie of the Future?

Including injured goaltender Matt Murray, the Leafs have nine goaltenders ahead of Akhtyamov. Now, that will change next season as some of the goaltenders ahead of him could leave as their contracts expire at the end of this season.

The list of Goaltenders ahead of Akhtyamov is Matt Murray, Ilya Samsonov, Joseph Woll, Martin Jones, Keith Petruzzelli, Dennis Hildeby, Luke Cavallin, Slava Peksa, and Dryden McKay.

Of those nine goaltenders, Murray, Samsonov, and Jones are all pending unrestricted free agents (UFA’s). The Leafs goaltender picture could be in for a dramatic change if all three are not with the Leafs next season.

A scenario in which all three leave might force the Leafs to bring Akhtyamov to North America. He is currently playing for Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL in Russia.

His 2023-24 KHL season started slow, but he has been playing very well lately. He has won five games in a row and six of his last seven games.

Akhtyamov’s record is 6-3-0 with a 2.10 GAA and a .937 SV%. He’s also played three games in the minors (VHL) for Neftyanik Almetievsk and posted a 1-2-0 record with a 2.02 GAA and a .933 SV%. He is hoping to stay at the KHL level this season.
(Stats from eliteprospects.com)

Akhtyamov played 39 games last season. All of them were with Neftyanik Almetievsk in the VHL. He finished with a 20-12-6 record, a 1.74 GAA, and a .943 SV%. He will try to turn that success into success at the KHL level this season.

So far, he looks pretty good. Hopefully, he’ll continue to find success, and we’ll see him with the Toronto Marlies and Toronto Maple Leafs in another season or two.