Maple Leafs' Latest Roster Move Sends a Subtle Message About Their Goalie Plans
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a decision regarding their goaltending situation in the AHL which might be signalling their intentions with a trio of netminders.
The goaltending situation for the Toronto Maple Leafs is stable for the most part. While Joseph Woll is currently out, he is part of a fantastic tandem with Anthony Stolarz, and when he returns will certainly help the Maple Leafs as they push for a Stanley Cup.
Their minor league situation is pretty solid as well, with Dennis Hildeby, Artur Akhtyamov, Ken Appleby, and Vyacheslav Peksa all being able to backstop the team to wins and keep them afloat in the AHL.
However, they may have shown their hand a little bit with their latest roster move.
The Toronto Marlies have decided to assign Appleby to the ECHL to play with the Cincinnati Cyclones in order to give him some more playing time and are going to keep their three youngsters around.
Why This Quiet Move Could Hint at the Leafs' Goaltending Plans
Peksa's arrival is a great sign and shows that he made a good amount of progress since his ECHL stint last year.
Appleby was signed to give them depth, and while he is more than serviceable at the AHL level, with Hildeby coming back as opposed to being on the Maple Leafs, they seemed to prefer Peksa's upside over Appleby's stability.
Last season, Peksa had a 12-14-3 record with a 2.68 GAA and .904 SV%; better numbers than his record would indicate and a big leap from his 2023-24 season.
Couple that with the potential of Artur Akhtyamov, who put together an 11-8-7 record with a 2.81 GAA and .901 SV% in his first season in North America, and Hildeby who already looks ready to make the next step; things are bright for the future.
What This Says About Toronto's Long-Term Goaltending Vision
Clearly there's a focus on ensuring that the young players not only get a chance to play meaningful reps, but are given the trust that their talent and hard work can earn them a shot over a trusted veteran.
It's a stark contrast to what we've seen in years past from the Toronto Maple Leafs, where they might mortgage their youth for a chance to have something foundational.
While the main club's goaltending is secured with Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, it looks like they don't have much to worry about when their time eventually ends thanks to their trio of young and promising netminders.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 13 | 832 ANSWERS Maple Leafs' Latest Roster Move Sends a Subtle Message About Their Goalie Plans Do you think Toronto needs to have more veteran goalies or is youth the way to go? | ||
| Veteran Help! | 307 | 36.9 % |
| Young Guns Only! | 525 | 63.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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