Jim Hiller Explains Why Artur Akhtyamov And Vinni Lettieri Were Recalled To The Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs recalled forward Vinni Lettieri and goaltender Artur Akhtyamov ahead of their matchup against the San Jose Sharks on Monday night.

This will be Lettieri's first NHL game since April 2025, and his debut with the Maple Leafs since joining the organization in 2025-26. 

Akhtyamov has joined the NHL club for the first time this season. He made his NHL debut last season, playing three games for the Maple Leafs. But in this stint, there's no guarantee that he'll see the ice for this upcoming back-to-back.

Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller explained what Akhtyamov's role will be to start the week and why he was called up.

"We got a back-to-back," Hiller said after morning skate. "So he'll back up the next couple nights, and then we'll give (Sergei Bobrovsky) the start tonight, and (Anthony Stolarz) will play tomorrow, and they'll get some rest."

Akhtyamov, 24, hasn't had the hottest start in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. In three games, he's posted an .822 save percentage and a 2.94 goals-against average with a 2-1-0 record.

As for Lettieri, he's been excellent for the Marlies in the first five games of his campaign. In that stretch, he scored three goals and nine points. The 31-year-old also had 14 goals and 42 points in 55 American League games last season.

Hiller hasn't known Lettieri for very long, given this is his first season behind the bench for Toronto, but the AHL veteran made a lasting impression on him at training camp.

"Lettieri, I think we talked about him a little bit in training camp, really impressed me," Hiller said. "I remember being on the ice with the second group, and he was just working. It really, really caught my eye right away. I'm sure he wanted to be with the big group and feel like he had a fair chance of making the team. Terrific attitude, skilled, but just his work ethic and his passion really caught me."

The Leafs are looking to snap a three-game losing streak, coming off a 4-1 defeat against the New York Islanders on Saturday. With that in mind, Lettieri slotted in as the right winger on the third line with Colton Sissons and Gavin McKenna.

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