Head Coach Compares Maple Leafs Top Goalie Prospect to Recent Vezina Finalist Ilya Sorokin

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Chris Gerics
November 18, 2024 (6:36 PM)

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The Maple Leafs have struck gold with Artur Ahktyamov, as the goaltender has impressed for the Marlies and drew a comparison to one of the NHL's best.

Since coming over to North America, Artur Ahktyamov has been absolutely lights out.

So far this season he's compiled a 5-0-1 record with a 1.95 GAA and .926 SV% and is a big reason why the Marlies have had success this season.

In his debut, he saved 37 of 38 shots against San Diego and picked up his first shutout in his third career game against Utica.

It's a run that has made many take a second look at the young Russian netminder, and he's gotten a very elite comparison from his head coach.

Artur Ahktyamov is Toronto's Ilya Sorokin

Head coach John Gruden knows as well as anyone the potential that Ahktyamov has, and the transition from the KHL to North American hockey is no issue.

Speaking about his blossoming goalie, Gruden heaped praise on Ahktyamov for his poise:

"He's competitive, for one. He's square to the puck and he's quick. There's a lot there to like."

Gruden didn't stop there and took to gushing about how Ahktyamov reminds him of one of the NHL's elite goaltenders:

"He reminded me a lot of Ilya Sorokin when I had him in the Islanders. Just very quick side to side, athletic. Again, it's always an adjustment coming over here and playing a North American game where it's a little more traffic, but he seems like he's handling that really well, and good, again, for him," said Gruden.

That's huge praise for the young goaltender, as Sorokin has been one of the league's best since his arrival in 2020.

For his career, Sorokin is 99-69-33 with a 2.55 GAA and .919 SV% including this season, and already has 18 shutouts.

In 2022-23, Sorokin finished runner-up for the Vezina Trophy after posting a sensational 31-22-7 record with a 2.34 GAA and .924 SV% while leading the league with six shutouts.

He was the reason New York made the playoffs and it paid off, earning a $66M extension in 2023, making him one of the league's highest-paid goaltenders only behind Connor Hellebuyck, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Jeremy Swayman.

If Ahktyamov can even reach half of what Sorokin has accomplished, not only will he find himself a lot richer, but he'll be given the spotlight that he welcomes so openly.

Toronto's goaltending future is bright, and Ahktyamov's shine is sure to grow. It's a huge shift from the Maple Leafs of old, where goaltending depth was a concern.

But now it's a matter of when, not if, for the Maple Leafs' Artur Ahktyamov.

POLL
Will Artur Ahktyamov be the Maple Leafs goaltender of the future?
▢ Yes he's the next CuJo!
▢ Yes, but as a backup
▢ No, but he's a solid piece
▢ He never plays for the Leafs