Artur Akhtyamov’s Steady Rise Gives Maple Leafs Another Goalie to Watch
If there’s one truth about goaltending in the NHL, it’s that you can never have too many options in the pipeline. Drafting goalies is a long game - unpredictable, often frustrating, but occasionally rewarding in a big way.
For every high-profile miss in the first round, there’s a gem unearthed in the later rounds. And for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Artur Akhtyamov is starting to look like one of those potential hidden gems.
Drafted in the fourth round back in 2020, Akhtyamov has taken the slow-and-steady route through the Leafs’ system. Now 24, the Russian netminder is in his second full season in North America, and while the numbers don’t scream breakout star just yet, there’s a lot to like about the way he’s handled an increased workload with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.
After splitting time last season in more of a 1B role behind fellow Leafs prospect Dennis Hildeby, Akhtyamov has stepped into a bigger spotlight in 2025-26. With Hildeby getting more NHL reps, the crease has opened up for Akhtyamov - and he’s made the most of it.
Through 26 games this season, Akhtyamov has posted a 16-7-3 record, a 2.91 goals-against average, and a .902 save percentage. Compare that to last year’s 11-8-4 mark, 2.81 GAA, and .901 SV%, and you get a picture of a goalie who’s holding steady despite a heavier load.
The stats may not leap off the page, but context matters. This is the most action he’s seen in North America, and he’s proving he can handle it.
That’s a win in itself.
And let’s not overlook the nod he received as an AHL All-Star this season. That recognition isn’t just a nice line on the résumé - it’s a sign that league observers are noticing his play, and it’s a confidence booster for a young goalie trying to make his mark.
The Leafs are no strangers to the long development arc that comes with young goaltenders, especially those drafted out of European junior leagues. Patience is part of the process.
While Hildeby has fast-tracked his way into NHL minutes sooner than expected, Akhtyamov’s development timeline is more in line with what you’d expect from a fourth-round pick at this position. Goaltending is a slow burn - and that’s okay.
He did get his first taste of NHL action this season, stepping in for Hildeby back in December and stopping all five shots he faced in relief. It was a short stint, but a clean sheet in your debut - no matter how brief - is always a good sign. Still, with Hildeby, Joseph Woll, and Anthony Stolarz ahead of him on the depth chart, Akhtyamov’s path to a permanent NHL role is crowded for now.
That said, this is where development gets interesting. If Akhtyamov keeps trending upward, keeps putting in the work, and keeps showing he can be reliable with a starter’s workload in the AHL, the Leafs will have decisions to make.
Goaltending depth can be a luxury - until it becomes a logjam. And at that point, performance tends to sort things out.
For now, Akhtyamov just needs to keep doing what he’s doing: stay sharp, stay ready, and use every AHL start as a stepping stone. Whether his NHL breakthrough comes next year or the year after, the Leafs have another intriguing option in the crease - and in today’s NHL, that’s worth its weight in gold.