The new General Manager Brad Treliving has recently caught the public's attention with an unexpected move.
In a time when the sporting community was anticipating news about Ryan O'Reilly, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, or Ilya Samsonov, Treliving reportedly made a significant decision - a fresh goaltender was recruited, albeit under an entry level contract.
The news was broken by Twitter sources, who revealed the signing of goaltender Artur Akhtyamov with the Leafs. The Leafs had previously selected Akhtyamov during the 2020 draft, where he secured the 106th spot.
"Hearing #LeafsForever prospect Artur Akhtyamov has signed a three-year ELC. #NHL. Nothing confirmed yet."
Akhtyamov's Transition to the NHL
Akhtyamov has made significant strides in his career, particularly during the 2022-23 season. He played in the VHL, boasting a remarkable record of 20 wins, 12 losses, and 6 ties.
His goalkeeping was particularly impressive, with a low goals against average of 1.74 and an outstanding save percentage of .943. Considering such statistics, he should be a valuable asset for the Leafs.
The proposed strategy involves having Akhtyamov starting in the KHL within the year, after which he will transition to the NHL.