See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source As part of our Maple Leafs coverage at the Toronto Sun, we’re keeping regular tabs on the club’s prospects and other hopefuls, checking in with some potential Leafs across the hockey landscape. Today, we talk to Toronto Marlies goalie Artur Akhtyamov and defenceman Ben Danford.
WHY IS AKHTYAMOV NOT HAPPY WITH HIS START? If you’re of the mind that Akhtyamov should be recalled by the Leafs and given the opportunity to start a game, you might want to put the brakes on that.
After helping lead the Marlies to a Calder Cup title last spring and earning American Hockey League MVP honours in the playoffs, Akhtyamov is trying to get back to that superior level. He’s not there yet, sporting a 2-2-1 record.
It’s a small sample size, yes, but of the 25 AHL goalies who had played in at least five games (before Thursday), Akhtyamov was 23rd in save percentage at .873. Akhtyamov, who turns 25 on Saturday, is not taking the early struggles lightly.
“I play bad, to be honest,” Akhtyamov told the Toronto Sun after a Marlies practice at the Ford Performance Centre this week. “I can be better and I work.
I work on it. “ I worry about it.
Every game matters. I have to try to stop every puck.” Akhtyamov had a .904 mark in 37 regular-season games in 2025-26 and followed that with a .923 save percentage in 22 playoff games.
He has no interest in looking back on his post-season performance, even with the great memories it conjures. “Playoffs, it’s already passed,” Akhtyamov said.
“I need to work for my future.” The Marlies are doing what they can to get Akhtyamov back on track. His rhythm was thrown off a bit when he was recalled by the Leafs to back up for a couple of games and, in the bigger picture, he made just two starts between Oct.
3 and Oct. 24.
Last weekend, Akhtyamov started back-to-back home games against Rockford, losing once in overtime and once in regulation. “We’re trying to get him some volume to see if we can get him back to the elite level he was last year,” Marlies coach Steve Sullivan said.
“We know what the skill set is. We know what the past performance is.
“There’s room for improvement. I don’t think the start is probably what he envisioned.” WHAT IS ALLOWING DANFORD TO EXCEL?
Danford is on board with the Leafs’ plans to, as the saying goes, let him cook with the Marlies before summoning him to the NHL. “ O bviously, everyone’s goal is to play in the NHL,” Danford said.
“I want to play in the NHL, but I want to play for a long time. I’m trying to take in as much as I can right now.
Every day, I’m learning something new.” Leafs general manager John Chayka told media during an availability earlier this week in Calgary that “it’s about the long term” in regard to Danford’s development and that the club envisions the 20-year-old eventually playing “10 to 15 years for us.” Through eight games with the Marlies, Danford has been getting heavy minutes.
The trust factor with the coaching staff has been crucial, though not surprising. Danford was solid for the farm club upon being inserted into the lineup in the Cup run last spring and he is building on that now.
The natural progression indicates he will, as Chayka hopes, be an impactful contributor on the Leafs blue line for a long time. It’s no coincidence that Danford has been getting guidance from a couple of former NHL defencemen who experienced just about everything during lengthy careers.
For any question or issue Danford might have, Marlies assistant coach Mark Giordano and Leafs development staff member Jake Muzzin are top-notch resources. As Sullivan is around Danford more and gets to know him better, there’s another quality that has become evident.
“You have to be wired a certain way,” Sullivan said. “You have to obsess over things if you’re going to be successful and want to reach the top and that’s what he has.
He’s obsessed about being the best. He’s obsessed about learning.
“It’s not like we’re trying to pull him along to get him to buy in. He obsesses about the game and himself and how he can continue to get better.
It’s his personality.” Gavin McKenna's milestone night for Maple Leafs undone by Sergei Bobrovsky in loss to Kraken Kirill Marchenko out on week-to-week basis as Maple Leafs offer injury updates Danford is in a good spot and he knows it. A role with the Leafs awaits, but not without the work that must come first.
“I’ve been pretty happy with (his game),” Danford said. “I feel like it has been pretty consistent.
“P laying a lot of minutes is something that you definitely don’t take for granted. I’m trying to make sure I play well to keep those minutes, because nothing’s given.
But yeah, I feel good about myself right now.” tkoshan@postmedia.com X: @koshtorontosun
