Toronto Maple Leafs Goaltending Prospect Coming to North America
The Toronto Maple Leafs will have another goaltender in their farm system this season. Goaltending prospect Artur Akhtyamov is leaving Ak Bars in Russia to continue his career in the Leafs system.
The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Akhtyamov in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL entry draft with the 106th overall pick. Akhtyamov is a 22-year-old Russian national from Kazan, Russia. He is 6'1, 168 Lbs, which is on the smaller side for goaltenders in today's NHL.
Last season, Akhtyamov split his playing duties between Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL and Neftyanik Alemtievsk in the VHL. With Ak Bars Kazan, he finished with a 6-7-0 record through 17 games with one shutout. He had a 2.51 GAA and a .921 SV%. With Neftyanik Almetievsk, he finished with a 10-5-4 record in 19 games with three shutouts, a 2.00 GAA and .927 SV%.
(All stats from eliteprospects.com)
During the 2024 VHL playoffs, Akhtyamov compiled a 16-5-0 record with two shutouts through 21 games. He finished with a 2.15 GAA and a .932 SV% and helped Neftyanik Almetievsk win the VHL championship. He will now try to further his development by coming to North America.
Toronto Maple Leafs System Gets Goaltending Depth
Once he joins the Leafs system, Akhtyamov will join Dennis Hildeby and Vyacheslav Peksa in the minors. The Leafs also have Keith Petruzzelli, who is a pending restricted free agent (RFA). Petruzzelli and Hildeby will get most of the playing time with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL, so Akhtyamov could be destined to start in the ECHL.
With the potential of losing Ilya Samsonov, Matt Murray, and Martin Jones in free agency, the Leafs need goaltending depth. Depending on what Leafs general manager Brad Treliving does to add another goaltender to his NHL roster, Petruzzelli or Hildeby could see some NHL playing time this season if the injury bug bites one of the Leafs goaltenders.
Should the Leafs have a need to call up a goaltender from the AHL, it would give Akhtyamov an opportunity to get some AHL playing time while Petruzzelli or Hildeby are up in the NHL. Either way, the more depth a team has, the better. Akhtyamov will give the Leafs the goaltending depth they need at the minor league level.
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According to capfriendly.com, Akhtyamov is signed for the next two seasons at $851,667 before becoming an RFA in July 2026.