The Toronto Marlies won the Calder Cup in impressive style, and it was largely due to Toronto Maple Leafs prospect goaltender Artur Akhtyamov.
Since being selected in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, hopes have been high for the Russian goaltender, who posted some exceptional numbers in his home country before moving over to North America.
After being drafted, Akhtyamov did not post below a .912 save percentage in the VHL, the Russian minor league. In his final season abroad, the Kazan-born netminder even had a .921 save percentage and a 2.51 goals against average in 17 KHL games for Ak Bars Kazan.
He has been developing his game with the Marlies over the past two seasons, showing impressive numbers in the regular season before backstopping the team to a historic second Calder Cup title.
With such impressive showings, it’s reasonable to expect Akhtyamov to be given a chance to show what he can do with the Toronto Maple Leafs in camp next season.
Akhtyamov’s cup run
The 24-year-old was the team’s starter for most of the season, as the previously presumed number one, Dennis Hildeby, found himself called upon in the NHL more than expected.
In 37 games, Akhtyamov played to a 21–12–4 record. The team’s 36–26–10 record was enough to see them finish fourth in the North Division.
It was in the postseason that things really took a turn, with Akhtyamov leading the way.
In total, the Marlies played 25 playoff games, and the Russian stood tall in 22, with Hildeby playing the other three.
Both goalies performed well in the net, but head coach John Gruden continued to trust Akhtyamov, who earned a 15–7–0 record as the team defeated the Rochester Americans, Laval Rocket, Cleveland Monsters, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and finally the Chicago Wolves en route to hoisting the Calder Cup.
Akhtyamov’s heroics saw him lift the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy, awarded to the playoff MVP.
After such a strong showing, winning the ultimate prize in the minors, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Akhtyamov looking to impress the Toronto Maple Leafs’ top brass this summer, looking to cement his place as an NHL prospect.
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ goalie picture
While Akhtyamov’s performances will have impressed the Leafs, there are some hurdles that he faces in attempting to stake a claim to more NHL minutes this coming year.
Namely, Dennis Hildeby and his waiver eligibility.
The 24-year-old Swede finished the 2025–26 campaign as statistically the best goaltender with the Leafs, with a .914 save percentage (the only Leafs goalie to eclipse the .900 mark) and a 2.86 GAA, the lowest of anyone on the team.
This, along with the recent trade sending Joseph Woll to the Philadelphia Flyers, has led to many presuming that he will stick around with the NHL team this year and create a tandem alongside veteran Anthony Stolarz.
Primarily, though, this boils down to the fact that the Leafs can no longer send Hildeby down to the minors without placing him on waivers. This exposes him to being claimed by another team and the Leafs losing a genuine NHL-ready prospect for nothing.
Akhtyamov, meanwhile, is free to move up and down and could very well be kept in the AHL if the Leafs decide to keep their tandem at two rather than carrying three goalies.
It would not serve Akhtyamov well if he were to sit in the press box every night, waiting for an opportunity, when he could be playing the majority of games in the AHL and gaining valuable minutes in another chance to impress the top club.
Hildeby could impress next year and push Stolarz for the starting role, which could open the door to a trade further down the line that sees Stolarz leave and Akhtyamov promoted to backup, but if he isn’t likely to establish himself in that role in October, then he would be better sticking around in the A.
Wherever he starts next season, this Calder Cup run and success should have the Toronto Maple Leafs considering all options when all is said and done.
