Report: Maple Leafs Getting Trade Offers On Top Goalie Prospect

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to be the team to watch this offseason. John Chayka and Mats Sundin have a ton of cap space, they have the number-one overall pick at next month's draft in Buffalo, they have a committed captain in Auston Matthews, and they also have their top goaltending prospect playing amazing for the Toronto Marlies in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman recently mentioned Artur Akhtyamov's name on an episode of 32 Thoughts, and opened up about the potential offseason moving coming from Chayka. It's no secret the Maple Leafs have limited prospects and their best trade depth is going to come from their crease, as Toronto has four capable goaltenders heading into next season. The trade-happy Chayka is 100% listening to offers and is likely going to make a significant move or two, as the Leafs are looking to upgrade at right wing on their top line, second-line center, and completely reshape their blueline.

Here's what Friedman had to say:

A lot of people around the league are noticing…the NHL combine begins this weekend in Buffalo, everybody’s gonna be there, and I think this is where the conversations are really going to begin. I think Toronto is gonna be asked what they’re thinking in goal. They’ve got four guys, you mentioned the two in the AHL, and they obviously have the two guys in the NHL with Woll and Stolarz. Toronto has done better than I think a lot of people in the AHL expected, I don’t know how many people expected them to beat Laval, and I don’t know how many people expected them to beat Cleveland, but they have, and he’s a major, major part of that.” -Friedman

With Dennis Hildeby no longer waivers exempt, the Maple Leafs have no choice but to make a move, as they won't be interested in losing the 6-foot-7 goaltender for nothing. So it's going to be interesting to see who Chayka ends up trading, which could actually be Anthony Stolarz in the end.

I have heard from some people who have been talking to the Toronto people around the AHL team, the organization is watching this and believing Akhtyamov is for real. So, I don’t know if they expect that he can play NHL games next year, but they definitely believe that he has an NHL future, and it’s going to be interesting to see if that affects any of Toronto’s decision-making in net this offseason, because people are looking for goalies and they have a surplus. And as you mentioned…they have to basically decide, are they going to have Hildeby be their backup next year, or risk losing him on waivers? So that will be something to watch for sure. - 32 Thoughts co-host Kyle Bukauskas

Maple Leafs on the move? 100%. A very busy offseason begins in a few weeks.

Toronto hits the empty net to go up 4-2 & things come off the rails after a whistle with 28.6 left.

Tristan Broz & Marc Johnstone swinging at each other, and Avery Hayes makes contact with Marlies goaltender Artur Akhtyamov - drawing the ire of Henry Thrun. @InsideAHLHockey pic.twitter.com/fKPwUCJLeS
— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) May 28, 2026