Leafs Akhtyamov Extension Locks In Goalie Pipeline Through 2029

The Leafs Akhtyamov extension is official — and it tells you everything about where Toronto's goaltending is headed. The Maple Leafs announced Sunday that they've signed 24-year-old prospect netminder Artur Akhtyamov to a three-year contract worth $900,000 AAV. The deal starts as a two-way contract in 2026-27 before flipping to one-way for 2027-28 and 2028-29. His entry-level deal was expiring this summer.

Four goalies. All signed through at least 2028. Somebody's getting traded.

Key Takeaways

  • Deal structure: 3 years, $900K AAV ($2.7M total) — two-way in Year 1, one-way in Years 2 and 3
  • AHL stats: 18-10-4 record, .904 SV%, 2.86 GAA in 32 games with the Toronto Marlies
  • Home ice dominance: 8-0-1 at home since November 26 — hasn't lost in regulation on Marlies ice in nearly four months
  • Goalie logjam: Woll ($3.66M), Stolarz ($2.5M rising to $3.75M), Hildeby ($841K), and now Akhtyamov ($900K) are all under contract
  • Trade signal: This signing all but confirms one of Woll or Stolarz moves this offseason

Why the Leafs Bet on Akhtyamov

The numbers earned this. Akhtyamov has been one of the AHL's best goalies this season — 18 wins in 32 starts, a .904 save percentage, and a 2.86 GAA with the Marlies. He was named to the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic. And that home record? Absurd. 8-0-1 since late November. Nobody in the AHL's Eastern Conference has been harder to beat on home ice.

But the Leafs didn't just fall in love with one hot stretch. Akhtyamov's been building toward this for years. Back in Russia, he posted a .921 save percentage in the KHL during the 2023-24 season. Won VHL Goaltender of the Year before that. The kid knows how to stop pucks at every level he's played.

He got his first NHL taste on December 13 against Edmonton — 11 minutes of relief work, five shots, five saves. Clean. Not a massive sample, but the composure was real. A 24-year-old Russian fourth-rounder walking into an NHL game against Connor McDavid's Oilers and not flinching? That's the kind of thing that makes front offices feel comfortable handing out extensions.

The Saturday night shutout — 26 saves in a 3-0 Marlies win over Rochester — was the cherry on top. The timing of this deal, announced the morning after, wasn't a coincidence.

The Goalie Logjam Gets Real

Here's the math that makes this interesting. Toronto now has four goalies under contract through at least 2027-28:

  • Anthony Stolarz: $2.5M in 2025-26, escalating to $3.75M through 2029-30
  • Joseph Woll: $3.66M AAV through 2027-28
  • Dennis Hildeby: $841K AAV through 2027-28
  • Artur Akhtyamov: $900K AAV through 2028-29

That's roughly $8.9 million in goaltending salary next season. Way too much for a position that requires two roster spots. One of Woll or Stolarz has to go.

Reports from earlier this season pegged the Leafs as "most comfortable moving Stolarz," per multiple insiders. But Woll's injury history makes him the riskier long-term bet, and his $3.66M AAV on a deal expiring in 2028 gives him attractive trade value. Either way, the Leafs Akhtyamov extension makes the calculus simpler — Toronto has two NHL-ready options behind whoever stays, and they're both on sub-$1M deals.

Hildeby has been the real revelation. A .910 save percentage and 2.90 GAA across 19 NHL games this season? That's starter-quality production from a guy making $841K. The Leafs have built genuine goaltending depth from the ground up — and Akhtyamov is the next piece in that assembly line.

From my perspective, Brad Treliving just turned a "position of strength" into a trade chip factory. Whoever gets dealt — Woll or Stolarz — brings back real assets. A top-six forward. A defensive upgrade. Draft capital. The Leafs can sell high on goaltending and reinvest where it matters most.

What's Next

The offseason trade market is going to be fascinating. Philadelphia, per multiple reports, is already hunting for goaltending help. So are a few other teams with aging or underperforming starters. Toronto holds the cards.

The Leafs Akhtyamov extension locks in the future pipeline — Hildeby and Akhtyamov as the long-term tandem, both cost-controlled, both under 25. The present belongs to whoever stays between Woll and Stolarz. And the asset return from whoever leaves could reshape Toronto's deadline and offseason strategy entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Leafs Akhtyamov extension worth?

Artur Akhtyamov signed a three-year extension with the Maple Leafs worth $900,000 AAV ($2.7M total). The deal is two-way in 2026-27 and becomes one-way for 2027-28 and 2028-29. His entry-level contract was set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 season.

Will the Maple Leafs trade a goalie after signing Akhtyamov?

Almost certainly. With four goalies signed through at least 2027-28 and a combined cap hit approaching $8.9 million, the Leafs are expected to move one of Joseph Woll ($3.66M AAV) or Anthony Stolarz ($3.75M AAV starting 2026-27) this offseason.

When did Artur Akhtyamov make his NHL debut?

Akhtyamov made his NHL debut on December 13, 2025 against the Edmonton Oilers. He entered in relief of Dennis Hildeby, played 11 minutes, and stopped all five shots he faced.