Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs goalie prospect Artur Akhtyamov was crucial in helping the East defeat the West in the AHL All-Star Game as his growth continues to impress.
Pitting the East vs. the West, it was a group of events that tested the mettle of the AHL’s best players. Hardest shots, fastest skater, and breakaway challenges were all part of the action with the East coming away with the overall victory 18-15.
Artur Akhtyamov shines in AHL All-Star Game
A big part of that win is due to Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Artur Akhtyamov, the lone participant representing the Toronto Marlies. He stopped all five shots in the final breakaway challenge to seal the deal:
Akhtyamov was perfect in his second chance at the breakaway challenge, though gave up three goals out of five in the first round.
He shone in the Rapid Fire Event where Akhtyamov was tasked with defending shot after shot, allowing only one goal in ten attempts; turning away the other nine:
One highlight is the save he made on Chicago Wolves forward Bradly Nadeau, who came in hot looking for a misdirect but Akhtyamov shut the door:
Toronto may have another future star goalie in their system
That moves his AHL record to 27-15-7 with a 2.86 GAA and .901 SV%; not too shabby for a player who just transitioned to the North American style last year.
His emergence as an AHL staple gives the Maple Leafs a lot more leeway if they wanted to make a deal too, as the team already has Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby for the future, and Akhtyamov could make for a very talented three-headed monster in the crease.
While he may be a year or two away from being a more consistent NHL presence, the fact that the Maple Leafs have yet another strong goalie in the pipeline is a breath of fresh air for a team that struggled for years to find reliable netminding.
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Artur Akhtyamov delivered a moment Leafs fans won’t forget
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