The current goaltending situation in Toronto is a complete mess. Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll are both on injury reserve with unclear timelines. Both of these goalies have had some great success with the Leafs, so losing them is a tough blow. With these two on the sidelines, the path has been cleared for Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov. These two goalies have landed the most important roles in their careers, with the Leafs sitting near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Hildeby has already made some starts with the team; now provides a good chance to look at what Akhtyamov has to offer.
Akhtyamov’s career highlights
Growing up, Akhtyamov had some pretty solid stats in the Russian leagues he played in. The Maple Leafs drafted him in the 2020 NHL Draft. They selected him in the fourth round at one hundred and sixth overall. Akhtyamov’s brightest moment at that point (other than being drafted) was making an appearance for Team Russia at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. Here, he was a backup to Yaroslav Askarov, who played in the majority of games. Akhtyamov made one appearance in the tournament, where he posted a 0.944 save percentage in a 7–1 victory against Austria.
Since being drafted, Akhtyamov has played in the Rus-VHL and the KHL, achieving notable success. In the 2022–2023 season, Akhtyamov played in thirty-nine games with Almetyevsk Neftyanik and posted a 0.943 save percentage and a 1.74 goals against average. In the following season, he continued to be dominant in the Rus-VHL and earned a promotion to the KHL. To finish out the 2023–2024 season, Akhtyamov played with the Kazan Ak-Bars, posting a 0.921 save percentage with a 2.51 goals against average. This was only with recording a 6–7 record, so his numbers stand out from his individual performance.
Over the past two seasons, Akhtyamov has played with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL. His basic statistics have dropped a bit, but that can be expected for a goalie transitioning to a completely different lifestyle. This year, Akhtyamov has made twelve appearances in the AHL, posting a 0.896 save percentage. The Marlies are very mediocre this season, so it’s tough to replicate his previous stats on a five hundred level team.
When could Akhtyamov play?
Depending on how long Woll and Stolarz are out for, Akhtyamov could get a couple of games in. This week, the team only has three games. The opponents include the Tampa Bay Lightning, San Jose Sharks, and the Edmonton Oilers. I could see Akhtyamov getting the start against the Sharks on Thursday. It is an easier opponent that does not quite have the same star power as the Lightning or Oilers. It would also be pretty cool to see him face off against his old World Juniors teammate Yaroslav Askarov.
For the remainder of the month, I could see Akhtyamov making starts against the Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, or the Ottawa Senators. Two of those games are in a back-to-back, so there is a chance that Akhtyamov would be confirmed to get at least three starts. With the way that the Leafs’ offence has been playing, he should have a fair amount of goal support in these games.
Going forward, it would be nice to see Akhtyamov get a chance. He is still a fairly young netminder who has had some serious potential. Now is the time to start him because games will only get more important as the season goes on. Akhtyamov could provide a spark heading into the Christmas break. Do you think he deserves a chance to start for the Leafs?
What happens if Akhtyamov plays well
If Hildeby and Akhtyamov perform well for the Leafs, it could certainly change the future in net. Both goalies are fairly young, as both of them are the age of twenty-four. The current tandem of Woll and Stolarz is signed for the next few years; however, changes can be made if necessary. Woll only has a modified no-trade clause in his final year of 2027–2028. Meanwhile, Stolarz has a no-trade clause throughout his entire contract. This may make the situation more complicated, but both goalies could certainly be moved.
Personally, I do not think the Leafs will move on from Woll or Stolarz anytime soon, unless injuries seriously continue to pile up between them. If Akhtyamov performs well during his stint with the Leafs, then he could eventually become a backup option for the franchise. Until then, he still may need some time to grow and learn down in the AHL. He only has thirty eight games of experience in the AHL, so this is a massive step forward for the young goalie.
There is a lot to keep an eye on this week for the Leafs. Be sure to tune into tonight’s game against the Lightning at 7:30 EST.
