2025 TLN Maple Leafs Prospect Rankings: #5 Artur Akhtyamov

The TLN Maple Leafs prospect rankings were compiled by a panel of seven TLN writers, each ranking our top 20 prospects to form a consensus group ranking. Rather than hard and fast limits on age or NHL games played to determine “prospect” eligibility, our group decided on a more nuanced approach to include any reasonably young player who is either under contract with the Leafs or on the club’s reserve list, who has not yet established himself as a full-time NHLer.

Those of us who invested early in Artur Akhtyamov stock are eating well these days, with the former fourth round pick making his way into the top five of Toronto Maple Leafs prospects. While some of Akhtyamov’s meteoric rise up the rankings (unranked in 2022, #14, 2023, #9, 2024) can be attributed to the franchise’s depleted prospect pool, the 6-foot-2 Russian goaltender has done more than enough to prove he has NHL quality potential.

The 2024/2025 season was Akhtyamov’s first in North America, coming over to spend the entirety of the campaign with the Toronto Marlies after rising up the ranks in Russia’s system and becoming a KHL regular the year prior, putting up a stellar .921 save percentage with Ak Bars Kazan.

The beginning of Akhtyamov’s time in Toronto was northing short of stellar, being thrust into starter duties earlier than expected when Dennis Hildeby was called up to the NHL following an injury to Joseph Woll. In his first three games for the Marlies, Akhtyamov put up an eye-opening .964 save percentage and 1.00 goals-against average while earning a shutout in only his 3rd career North American start.

While his numbers regressed to a more sustainable average over the course of the rest of the season, finishing the year with an 11-8-4 record and a .901 save percentage, the regular flashes of brilliance from a goaltender who’s still only 23 years old has left many wondering if goaltending has suddenly become a position of noticeable strength for the Maple Leafs organization. If Akhytamov can find additional consistency to his game, and raise his numbers to a level comparable with his Russian KHL stats, then the likes of Stolarz, Woll, and Hildeby may find themselves facing additional competition for time spent in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ net.

As a goaltender, Akhtyamov’s greatest asset has always been his hockey IQ and ability to track the puck. At times, he can be an extremely boring player to watch, often in exactly the right position and making saves look routine and simple, while a lesser netminder would need to make a diving highlight reel save to achieve the same effect.

At 6-foot-2, he’s a touch on the small size compared to many NHL starters, so his positioning has become a valuable skill that makes up for a lack of reach. Quick reflexes compliment his positional strength, allowing for quick recovery during scrambles and making second saves off rebounds. 

With Matt Murray leaving the Toronto Marlies to sign with the Kraken organization, Akhtyamov will now likely be sharing the Marlies net with Hildeby. Last season, Murray (21 games) Akhtyamov (26 games) and Hildeby (30 games) split duties 3-ways for the AHL organization. While Hildeby remains #3 on the depth chart, Akhtyamov appears to be closer on the Swedish netminder’s heels than many may think, and another strong start to the season could see Akhtyamov making his NHL debut in the near future.

As the Toronto Maple Leafs are in the midst of a contention window, a strong start to the AHL campaign from both Akhtyamov and Hildeby could also raise some discussion on whether the Maple Leafs should consider selling from a position of strength, trading away one of their young netminders at the deadline for a piece that could provide immediate help for an organization looking to win its first Stanley Cup in nearly 60 years. Though those who remember a time when a young European goaltending prospect by the name of Tuukka Rask was traded away for immediate help may insist the organization do no such thing.

The emergence of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll as one of the league’s most consistent netminding tandems means that barring any injury or drop-off of play, there will be no question marks in net when NHL training camps start. That being said, Akhtyamov finds himself in a position that many minor league athletes crave, one of stability. It’s all but guaranteed that he’ll begin the AHL season as a tandem starter for the Toronto Marlies, and likely spend the majority of the season in that exact role, allowing the young netminder to focus on developing his game, improving skills, and ideally leaving Maple Leafs management with a tough decision on who their goaltender of the future will be.

Should the call for NHL action come, Akhtyamov can only hope to be as ready for his first taste of action with the Maple Leafs as he was with the Marlies. Throughout his career, he’s continued to elevate his play to higher levels climbing up the 3-tiers of the Russian system and then impressing in the AHL last season. With only one rung left on the pro-hockey ladder, Akhtyamov finds himself tantalizingly close to making the NHL. Much like his rise up our prospect rankings, he may just be another strong season or two away from finally reaching the top.