Toronto Maple Leafs European Prospect Update for December

Although this Toronto Maple Leafs prospect update is based on the prospects playing in Europe as a whole, the only league that the Leafs have prospects in is the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Well, not exactly, the Toronto Maple Leafs currently own the rights to players in the Supreme Hockey League (VHL) and National League (NL) as well. However, the players in those leagues would hardly be considered prospects at this point either due to age or lack of NHL projection.

The Leafs have a longstanding history with European players as a whole. Some of the best players in team history are European like; Mats Sundin and Borje Salming. This extends to Russia as well with the Leafs dipping their hands into the KHL free agency market in recent years signing players like Ilya Mikheyev, Nikita Zaitsev, and Igor Ozhiganov amongst others.

Historically, Toronto has been a safe landing spot for Russian players with the likes of Nikolai Borschevsky, Sergei Berezin, and Dmitri Yushkevich to name a few. Hopefully at least one of the players below can be remembered as fondly as some of the players mentioned in the future.

Toronto Maple Leafs European Prospect Update for December

Artur Akhtyamov, Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)

After Amir Miftakhov suffered an injury earlier this season, Akhtyamov was afforded a great opportunity with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL.

So far, he has taken the opportunity and ran with it. He has mostly split the crease with former all-star netminder Timur Bilyalov. Through 17 games he has a record of 6-7-0 and a .921% save percentage (SV%).

The timeline on Miftakhov’s injury is unknown but whenever he comes back, he likely pushes Akhtyamov back down to the VHL.

Regardless of when that is, this season has been a major success and a huge step for the development of the young Russian goalkeeper.  (note: all stats eliteprospects.com).

Nikita Grebyonkin, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

Last season’s Alexei Cherepanov (KHL rookie of the year) winner has taken a slight step back in production this year.

Through 52 KHL games last season between Magnitogorsk and Amur Khabarovsk, Grebyonkin scored nine goals and 17 assists. So far through 38 games he has produced only eight goals and eight assists. Some may call it a sophomore slump but I think the answer is much less complicated.

Last season he recorded all of his points on loan with Amur and was held scoreless in his seven games with Magnitogorsk. On Amur, he was consistently playing 18 minutes or more a night in a top-six role.

This season, he is averaging only 14:14 of time-on-ice per game (TOI/GP), good for ninth amongst Metallurg forwards. By season’s end he will likely have a much less impressive stat sheet but again, this is likely to lack of opportunity than regression on his part.

Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL)

The former Toronto Marlies’ forward, SDA left for Russia this past summer and has impressed. He currently sits fourth in scoring amongst Traktor forwards with 18 points in 32 games.

This is impressive seeing as he currently sits fifth in TOI/GP amongst forwards. A positive step that SDA has taken this season is that his goal totals are much more pronounced, accounting for 10 of his 18 points.

For context, he hasn’t scored more than 13 in a single season in North America at any level of play. As a player who has faced criticism for being a pass-first (almost pass-exclusive) player with limited offensive threats outside of that, it is a positive thing to note.

It’s hard for SDA to get a notable increase in ice-time, especially with more experienced veteran players occupying centre spots like Vladimir Tkachyov. Regardless of whether he is given an increased role, SDA has shown improvements and should hopefully continue to be an impact forward for Traktor in the second-half of the season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have done well in recent years signing and drafting Russian players. The current crop of prospects looks to be no different and could become valuable members of future Leafs rosters for years to come.

They have all been progressing and playing well overseas and should hopefully look to come over to North America in the coming seasons.