Maple Leafs Prospect Goalie Steals the Show Against the Senators
Photo credit: Steven Ellis - Daily Faceoff
With all the talk about Easton Cowan and Ben Danford on Sunday, one Maple Leafs prospect stole the show in between the pipes, that being Artur Akhtyamov.
With all the focus on Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll as the current starters for the Maple Leafs going forward, there is only ever a spotlight on their third-string backup Dennis Hildeby.
There's a lot to be excited about, and with a new extension under his belt there's a lot of reliable and young goaltending to be excited about however one that seems to fly under the radar is Artur Akhtyamov.
What Akhtyamov Showed in His Preseason Performance
Quietly coming into his own this season with the Marlies, the young Russian goaltender was tasked with facing off against the Ottawa Senators in the Maple Leafs' first preseason game and boy did he show up.
Stopping 16 of 17 shots, he was poised, calm and most of all pretty darn solid.
Plus, he decided to pull out his best Anthony Stolarz impression and decided to go gloveless at one point, but didn't dare cover the puck like his teammate last season.
While he only played 30 minutes, in that time he was fantastic and besides one goal given up he gave Toronto every chance to build that 4-1 lead early on.
Why His Strong Showing Matters for the Leafs' Goalie Depth
Given that Hildeby has been essentially earmarked as the third-stringer, it's going to be up to Akhtyamov to hold things down if's called up.
While Hildeby will be playing in the Marlies a lot too, Akhtyamov has proven that he can play against both NHL level and AHL level talent and show up to the task. There has been a lot of praise for his growth and ability to transition his game to the North American ice, and the future is bright.
Last year, Akhtyamov posted an 11-8-4 record with a 2.81 GAA and .901 SV% as well as adding three shutouts. He was outstanding in the Russian Junior League (VHL) which led to Toronto drafting him 104th overall in 2020.
With questions about both Stolarz and Woll's health, and the fact that Stolarz might end up being a free agent if he doesn't extend by the regular season, it's a great thing that Toronto is not only keeping hold of their goalie prospects (Tuukka Rask still haunts us).
It just so happens they got a really, really good one in Artur Akhtyamov.
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