Maple Leafs Goalie Prospect Officially Takes Big Step in His Development

Maple Leafs goaltending prospect Vyacheslav Peksa is making headlines as he takes a sizeable step forward in his North American development, earning a roster spot out of Toronto Marlies training camp.

The Marlies Official PR account on Twitter has reported that goaltender Ken Appleby was one of two demotions and will be heading to Cincinnati, along with forward Braeden Kressler, to work with the Cyclones -- the Leafs' ECHL affiliate.

The 23-year-old Russian netminder has shown consistent growth since being drafted 185th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, and now finds himself one step closer to his NHL dream.

After spending the last few seasons honing his skills in the KHL, VHL and ECHL, Peksa's transition to the AHL is significant. Peksa had spent last season with the Cyclones, posting a 12-14-3 record to go along with his .904 SV% and 2.68 GAA.

Known for his calm demeanor in the crease, strong positional play and good lateral movement, Peksa has impressed development staff enough that he has ascended beyond the ECHL ranks and has shown himself deserving of a real look at the AHL level.

The Leafs were once a team with a bit of a deficiency in goal and in their goalie pipeline. That is no longer the case with Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll (currently on a leave of absence) as the head of the spear in Toronto at the NHL level.

Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov are the two primary netminders in the AHL, which is why the Peksa news is so surprising. Now, the Toronto Marlies have 3 capable netminders in the AHL.

For Leafs fans tracking the franchise's future in net, Vyacheslav Peksa's presence in Toronto is an exciting development. His progression from a late-round draft pick to a serious AHL contender underscores Toronto's growing emphasis on scouting and goaltender development.

This move almost makes you wonder if perhaps the Leafs are attempting to pull off a trade for a top-six forward, with a part of their package to offer up being one of their young goalie prospects.