Maple Leafs Top Prospect Draws Comparisons to NHL's Best Goaltender

Published October 19, 2023 at 9:29
BY JULIEN TREKKER

Leafs' Top Prospect Shines in the KHL

One of the top prospects in the Maple Leafs organization is getting more and more attention as the season goes on.

Currently playing in the KHL, goaltender Artur Akhtyamov has been simply phenomenal since the season began.

Here's what Kyle Cush reported, highlighting the goalie's top performances.

"Artur Akhtyamov stopped 29 of 31 shots in a 3-2 overtime win against Amur Khabarovsk today.

Totals (KHL): 10 GP, 6-2-1, .937 SV%, 2.10 GAA"

Akhtyamov Draws Comparisons to the Best Goalies in the NHL

In a recent episode of the Staff and Graff podcast, Rachel Doerrie compared Akhtyamov's stats with Shesterkin's, and there's not a big difference.

"When you look at his numbers, the two closest comparisons are Igor Shesterkin and Ilya Sorokin. The reason is Akhtyamov, who's in his 21-year-old season in the KHL, is with a team that isn't CSKA or SKA, which Shesterkin and Sorokin played for. So he's playing for AK Bars Kazan. So far, he's 6-3-0, with a .937 SV% and a 2.10 GAA.

In his 21-year-old season, Shesterkin had a .937 SV%, and just below a 1.7 GAA, playing for SKA, which is like the class of the league."

As you can see, there's not a big difference between Shesterkin's numbers in the KHL and Akhtyamov's.

Let's hope he brings the same skills and energy to the Maple Leafs once he's ready to pursue his career in North America. Can you imagine the damage that the Leafs could do with a superstar goalie?

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POLL
October 19 \| 240 answers Maple Leafs Top Prospect Draws Comparisons to NHL's Best Goaltender Do you think Akhtyamov will become a star goaltender in the NHL?
Yes	188	78.3 %
No	52	21.7 %
LIST OF POLL