Emergence of a Maple Leafs prospect puts Brad Treliving in a position of strength
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
With the emergency of Artur Akhtyamov as a serious potential NHL goalie, it gives Brad Treliving and the Leafs a chance to deal from a strength this upcoming spring.
Though there isn't much to look forward to if you're a Maple Leafs fan, at least one positive that has come out of things is the emergence of Dennis Hildeby as an NHL starter.
Sure he still has some issues to work out but he's leagues better than he was last year and has proven to be a solid asset going forward in the wake of Anthony Stolarz's injury.
Artur's ascension from Russian youngster to AHL All-Star
There also happens to be another young goaltender who is making waves in the Maple Leafs system right now, and his latest heroics show why he could be a huge piece of the future:
Artur Akhtyamov has been solid this season going 15-7-3 so far with a 2.99 GAA and .899 SV%. While not perfect, he's shown he can be a fine goalie despite a short transition to the North American style of hockey.
Not to mention he was named as part of the AHL All-Star festivities, well deserved and his second straight solid year as part of the Marlies
Though he hasn't been at the NHL level really, but did stop all five shots he faced against Edmonton on Dec. 13 in only 10:32 TOI.
Toronto could use their goaltending depth to initiate a trade
But him being a quickly growing prospect offers the Maple Leafs a chance to deal from a strength, as they could look to use someone like Anthony Stolarz as trade bait to improve their defence.
With questions about Stolarz's health going forward and whether he can handle a full load as a starter, Toronto could dangle him to teams looking for goaltending help on a relative bargain.
One player he could help bring in is Dougie Hamilton, as New Jersey needs stability in goaltending and while Stolarz isn't exactly reliable; he'll have a bit better of a defensive team in front of him.
Plus being a native of New Jersey, it would be a homecoming for the goalie, as it would be for Hamilton upon landing in Toronto. New Jersey doesn't need to retain and Toronto can add a piece like Matias Maccelli as well to help cover the remainder.
Akhtyamov is still a bit away from being an everyday starter or even and NHL backup, but the Maple Leafs should ride with Woll and Hildeby until he's ready to go and then figure out the next steps on who they should keep.
For now though, it's looking like the team may have their third NHL starter in the pipeline, making Anthony Stolarz and the others expendable, a real asset that could be their ace in the hole.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Maple Leafs scouts keep showing up for the same team, and it's starting to look like a trade is brewing
Maple Leafs scouts keep showing up for the same team, and it's starting to look like a trade is brewing
Previously on Hockey Patrol
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 26|1359 ANSWERS Emergence of a Maple Leafs prospect puts Brad Treliving in a position of strength Which goalie should the Maple Leafs trade if they decide to? | ||
| Anthony Stolarz | 1149 | 84.5 % |
| Joseph Woll | 114 | 8.4 % |
| Dennis Hildeby | 96 | 7.1 % |
| List of polls | ||