Though he's had his bumps, Leafs prospect Artur Akhtyamov has recently been compared to one of the NHL's best according to a former teammate.
It's taken a long time but the Toronto Maple Leafs finally have some respectable goaltending prospects (that they didn't trade away -- a la Tuukka Rask) and with Joseph Woll already coming into his own, the future is bright.
Dennis Hildeby is going to be at the very least a solid and consistent starter once he gets more comfortable, and Artur Akhtyamov has taken his international experience and translated it into a successful rookie campaign.
It's the latter however that gives Toronto Marlies forward Kyle Clifford a serious case of deja vu when it comes to Akhtyamov -- he reminds him of Jonathan Quick.
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That's some pretty high praise for the young goalie, but let's take a look at Akhtyamov's rise through the AHL ranks.
Artur Akhtyamov Is Toronto's Jonathan Quick: Kyle Clifford
It's safe to say that Akhtyamov has adjusted well to the North American game this year.
In his rookie year he is 10-4-3 with a 2.66 GAA and .904 SV% to go along with two shutouts as well.
Kyle Clifford has been impressed so far, and the veteran forward revealed that Akhtyamov reminds him of former teammate Jonathan Quick:
It's just his level of compete. He battles for every puck. He doesn't give up on anything. They're different styles of goalies, but that competitive edge (is similar)
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Quite the commendation from Clifford, as there's no doubt Quick has been one of the best over the last decade-plus and has built a Hall of Fame career for himself.
In 798 games, Quick has a 401-288-88 record to go with a 2.49 GAA and .911 SV% to go along with two Stanley Cups, two Jennings Trophies, and was the 2011-2012 Conn Smythe Winner.
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If Akhtyamov can reach even half of that, it will go down as a solid career. His speed and reflexes are top notch, and according to fellow goalie Dennis Hildeby -- it's why he's been successful:
The way he moves is something you notice right away. He moves extremely quickly and reads the game very well.
A lot of that can be credited to his play in the KHL before coming over to Toronto. Being able to play against professional players in arguably the second-biggest pro hockey league in the world -- it builds confidence.
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While it may be awhile before we see Akhtyamov in a Maple Leafs jersey, it's a fantastic sign to see him progressing so quickly. If he reminds Clifford of Jonathan Quick -- Who's to say he can't be just as good?