Every time you look at Artur Akhtyamov's numbers, they get more ridiculous. The 21-year-old Leafs prospect is currently playing in the VHL, one level down from the Russian KHL. This season, he's got a 15-6-2 record, an unfathomable .946 sv% and a sparkling 1.60 GAA.
Rather than seeing his numbers come back down to earth, Akhtyamov seems to be improving as the season progresses. Over his last 10 games, his sv% is .962 and in his last five, it's even better at .976, propped up by the consecutive shutouts he's posted in his last 2 games. For those who may be wondering, yes, that's good. The. Kid. Is. Good.
The problem with goaltending prospects is that it's a long road from the draft to the NHL. Longer still for overseas prospects. We shouldn't expect to see Akhtyamov wearing the Maple Leaf on his chest for at least another 3 or 4 years. Goalies are very difficult to project, but as a young netminder working his way up, all Akhtyamov can do is stop whatever puck is being shot at him. So far this season, he's done just that.
