Maple Leafs Lock Up Another Goalie on Multi-Year Deal

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Artur Akhtyamov

Maybe it was the shutout that clinched it. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been thoroughly impressed by the play of 24-year-old netminder Artur Akhtyamov with the Marlies this season. And Saturday night's shutout wasn't the only reason they've now signed him to a new three-year contract. But the timing was impeccable.

🚨 BREAKING: The Maple Leafs have announced that they have EXTENDED G Artur Akhtyamov to a three-year contract.

The deal starts as a two-way contract for the 2026–27 season and then becomes a one-way contract for the 2027–28 and 2028–29 seasons. The contract has an average… pic.twitter.com/5YTmUSypBf
— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) March 15, 2026

The deal comes with a $900,000 AAV, and starts as a two-way contract for the 2026–27 season and then becomes a one-way contract for the 2027–28 and 2028–29 seasons. His entry-level contract was expiring at season's end.

He sports an 18-10-4 mark in the AHL this season, with a .904 save percentage and a 2.86 goals against average. He had very similar numbers last year as well with the Marlies in his first AHL season. This season, he hasn't lost at home in regulation since Nov. 26, going 8-0-1 since then.

The 6'2" Russian 'keeper had been putting up tremendous numbers back in his homeland for a few years before that, including a .921 Sv% in the KHL in 2023-24.

The move further solidifies the Leafs' goaltending group, which also features Dennis Hildeby, who largely dominated at the NHL level as well as in the AHL this season, and of course, the Joseph Woll/Anthony Stolarz combo with the big team. The signing signifies that a trade of one of Woll or Stolarz could certainly be coming this offseason, as the Leafs could deal from a position of strength.

All four goalies are signed at least through 2028, with Akhtyamov running through 2028-29 and Stolarz through the 2029-30 season.

Akhtyamov made his NHL debut earlier this season on Dec. 13th against Edmonton. He played 11 minutes in relief of Hildeby (one of his rare tough starts for the Leafs), stopping all five shots he faced.

He was selected by Toronto in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft.