Artur Akhtyamov has proven he can handle high-pressure situations and needs a bigger test of his skills that could put him in line for NHL starts.
Akhtyamov, 24, put up a solid season with the Marlies in the regular season but picked things up considerably in the playoffs. He went 15-7-0 with a 2.22 GAA and .923 SV% while guiding the Marlies to a Calder Cup and earning Playoff MVP honours along the way.
Currently though his path to the NHL is blocked by Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz and Toronto has to make a decision about where he's going to fit in this season. He does have a bit of leeway with a two-way deal allowing him to bounce back and forth this year - but come 2027-28 he isn't waiver exempt.
Akhtyamov needs a full workload before Toronto expands his workload
Akhtyamov did struggle in his brief stint with the Maple Leafs but he was never given much time to get acclimated, and his results in the AHL show that there's a talented and clutch player who needs time to showcase his stuff.
He went 0-2-0 with a 5.24 GAA and .877 SV% as it took him time to get used to the speed of the NHL game.
He's likely going to get a long look at being the workhorse of the Marlies, as Dennis Hildeby is gone and the team signed the likes of Ken Appleby and Samuel Hlavaj more as insurance behind Ahktyamov as opposed to splitting starter duties 50-50.
With questions about both Bobrovsky after a down year and Stolarz's health, Akhtyamov is going to be the first person tasked with helping the Maple Leafs should either man have issues. But Toronto can't just sparingly use him and force the workload onto either Bobrovsky or Stolarz.
There may be growing pains, but Akhtyamov has proven to come through when it matters.
After winning a Calder Cup and MVP, Akhtyamov is no longer a project who may be a potential NHL starter, but now someone on the cusp of being the future of the Maple Leafs goaltending situation - and the fact Toronto traded several young goalies while keeping onto him shows how much they value his potential.
Toronto needs to balance exposure with Akhtyamov's need to keep starting
But if the team is going to bring him into the folding give him more chances then they need to make sure it's not out of necessity. You can't bring him up, sit him for a week, then send him back. That ruins any momentum or comfort he has, and sitting beyond practice does no good for his growth.
As we've seen previously, Toronto will call players up as insurance but instead of using them to see how they can offer a different dynamic to the lineup, they'll sit in the press box. It wasn't until the end of the season where we saw more prospects playing and they can't do the same with Akhtyamov.
It's very likely he sticks around as the long-term starter for the Marlies this year and manages the bulk of the workload.
He'll get a few games off in order to have a break and give Hlavaj or Appleby a chance but that also prevents him from being tested at the NHL level where he could find success - we haven't really seen what he can do beyond a couple games.
Toronto has to decide what is best for his growth. Whether that be as the full-time starter for the Marlies, being an injury call-up who actually plays more often, or potentially even as Bobrovsky's backup next year - the Maple Leafs have to give Akhtyamov a real shot because he already proved his worth at the AHL level and it's time to do it in the NHL.
Do you think Artur Akhtyamov has earned a chance with the Maple Leafs?
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