Any rebuild or short-term reload by the Maple Leafs will depend on a pipeline of good goaltending.

The club hopes it took a big step in that direction — and to maybe using one of their stoppers as a trade piece for help at another position — by signing Artur Akhtyamov to a three-year contract extension on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Russian, a fourth-round 2020 draft pick, has been excelling with the Toronto Marlies this year. His AHL record is 18-10-4 with a .904 save percentage.

The new deal, a $900,000 AAV, is two-way for 2026-27 and one-way for ‘27-28 and ‘28-29.

Ramped-up competition

It increases the competition among incumbents Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz and Dennis Hildeby, who went back to the farm after capably filling in earlier this season for the injured Stolarz. While Stolarz was signed for playoff insurance two summers ago, the lagging Leafs will not be involved in the tournament this spring and Stolarz’s age (32) and relatively low AAV ($3.75 million) would create some trade interest. The potential drawback is that his deal has a lot of term remaining, running through 2029-30.

Hildeby, 25, now has 25 NHL games under his belt with a .905 save percentage, and is also a trade option given Akhtyamov’s trajectory and that Toronto would lose Hildeby through waivers starting next season. Unlike the parent team, the Marlies are on target to make the playoffs so both should see action.