In 39 games with Neftyanik Almetievsk last season, Akhtyamov racked up a 20-12-6 record with a 1.74 GAA and a .943 SV%. Many in the Maple Leafs fanbase hoped that this would mean a promotion to the KHL for this upcoming season or a permanent trip over to North America to become acclimated with the smaller ice and faster game.
The primary hope here, from Toronto's perspective, is that the 21-year-old can replicate his performance from 2022-23 and put up similar numbers. Since he's only on loan to Neftyanik, Akhtyamov can be recalled by his KHL club at any point this season and is likely Ak Bars Kazan's 3rd string goalie, just behind Timur Bilyalov and Amir Miftakhov.
It's truly tough to know what the Leafs have in Akhtyamov right now. Goalies do take awhile to develop, an the Russian netminder is still only 21. There's plenty of time for him to still gain some valuable experience in the KHL or even to make the jump over to North America next summer if the Leafs feel like his development will be better with the AHL's Toronto Marlies.