Speculation: Akhtyamov and Hildabeast

Funk21

Registered User
Mar 6, 2013
4,395
1,899
Toronto
This kid is playing lights out in front of a very mediocre team in the AHL. Hildeby has largely been very solid in time with the Marlies. Hasn’t look too out of place in the NHL. Yes I am aware that goalies are Voodoo and this is Yammy’s first North American Season but we actually have some decent goalie prospects for once in the system. I think that both could be a 1B on our team in the future.

Do you think after this season looking to trade Stolarz in the summer at what will likely be a very high point might provide some much needed draft or prospect capital or do you think we just roll Woll and Stolarz this year and next and let him walk to get a massive pay day?

I get that our goalies have been what has made this season bearable but we need some other players that just Cowan and Danford (at least two years away) in the pipeline. Minten I see as a very strong 3C so we need to find a 2C somewhere. Yes I also like Grebenkin and think he will be a great bottom 6.

Thoughts?
 

All Mod Cons

Registered User
Sep 7, 2018
11,546
12,505
This kid is playing lights out in front of a very mediocre team in the AHL. Hildeby has largely been very solid in time with the Marlies. Hasn’t look too out of place in the NHL. Yes I am aware that goalies are Voodoo and this is Yammy’s first North American Season but we actually have some decent goalie prospects for once in the system. I think that both could be a 1B on our team in the future.

Do you think after this season looking to trade Stolarz in the summer at what will likely be a very high point might provide some much needed draft or prospect capital or do you think we just roll Woll and Stolarz this year and next and let him walk to get a massive pay day?

I get that our goalies have been what has made this season bearable but we need some other players that just Cowan and Danford (at least two years away) in the pipeline. Minten I see as a very strong 3C so we need to find a 2C somewhere. Yes I also like Grebenkin and think he will be a great bottom 6.

Thoughts?
Roll with Woll and Stolarz this season and next.

NHL trades (outside of the deadline) are a thing of the past.
 

TMLBlueandWhite

Knies Is The Next Hyman But Better
Feb 2, 2023
2,085
2,137
When they drafted Hawktuahmov I wrote him off completely.

He was so undersized for a goalie. I never expected him to have such a hell of a growth spurt at his age. Even at his current 6'02" and 170lbs he would still be considered on the smaller side of NHL goalies though.

But man is he ever putting up some good numbers.

I had, and still have, Hildeby as the next number one starting goaltender for the Leafs. I'm pretty sure the organization was, and probably still are, thinking the same. But that isn't written in stone and things change quickly in the world of professional sports.

Competition is fierce so only the best of the best survive.

I really don't care which of the team's studly goaltending propects becomes the man. Having all this quality goaltending depth can only be a good thing. One of these guys is bound to work out and become a star in the NHL.

Then again I had high hopes for Garret Sparks too once so what do I know.
 

TMLAM34

Registered User
Oct 15, 2020
5,387
6,450
Until Hildeby or AA force our hands by showing us they belong in the NHL (by playing NHL games), I’m not trading either Woll or Stolarz.

Just take a look at Sparks as a perfect example, put up great numbers in the AHL but couldn’t translate it to the NHL.

We finally have two 1B goalies in a tandem, let’s not ruin a good thing. We’ve been searching for this level of goaltending since Belfour (not comparing either Woll or Stolarz to Belfour either, they’re far from him).
 

Sypher04

Registered User
Jan 20, 2011
12,767
11,610
AA has been excellent, but I’d push back against the idea the Marlies are “very mediocre”. More like ravaged by call ups
 

ACC1224

Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
Aug 19, 2002
77,145
43,993
Seriously short sided to think of moving any goalies right now.
This is the best situation the teams been in with goaltending in a very long time, why anyone would want to throw that away is beyond me.
 

Isaac Nootin

Registered User
Sep 28, 2017
7,820
12,292
I had, and still have, Hildeby as the next number one starting goaltender for the Leafs. I'm pretty sure the organization was, and probably still are, thinking the same.
When does this happen exactly? Not like Woll is some aging vet, Hildeby is only 3 years younger (23 vs 26), so he'll be sitting behind him for a long time.
 

Stephen

Moderator
Feb 28, 2002
81,856
59,823
I would hold onto this group of four goalies for as long as humanly possible before healthy internal competition forces a change. Hildeby has less than 50 pro games to his name. I'm not worried about promoting him soon. Akhtyamov has less than 10 pro games to his name.

I would even look at extending Stolarz beyond next year if he consistently out produces Woll.

Look at the return Askarov got. Either Barry Trotz messed up royally or goalies just don't have crazy value.
 

Buds17

Registered User
Nov 29, 2015
8,581
3,602
A contending team has to see some of that ability and performance at the NHL level before moving away from a more proven option.
 

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