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Leafs goalie Artur Akhtyamov drops the Calder Cup during celebrations
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- Leafs goalie Artur Akhtyamov drops the Calder Cup during celebrations
Leafs goalie Artur Akhtyamov drops the Calder Cup during celebrations
The Toronto Marlies enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in franchise history in 2025-26, combining strong regular-season play with an unforgettable run through the Calder Cup Playoffs. Serving as the primary development affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Marlies showcased a blend of veteran leadership and emerging prospects, ultimately proving themselves to be one of the American Hockey League's elite teams.
Throughout the regular season, Toronto consistently remained among the top clubs in the North Division. The Marlies benefited from strong performances from veteran forwards such as Logan Shaw and Vinni Lettieri, while several young prospects continued their development within the organization. On the blue line, steady defensive play and reliable goaltending helped establish Toronto as a difficult team to play against on a nightly basis. Their balanced roster allowed them to weather injuries and call-ups while remaining firmly in the playoff picture all season long.
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Once the Calder Cup Playoffs began, however, the Marlies elevated their game to another level. Their most dramatic series came in the North Division Finals against the Cleveland Monsters. After falling behind and facing adversity throughout the series, Toronto rallied to win the decisive fifth game by a 3-2 score, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals. The victory demonstrated the resilience that would become the defining characteristic of the team's postseason run.
The Marlies continued their impressive playoff march against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals. Toronto jumped out to a series lead by winning the first two games on the road before eventually clinching the series in six games. Overtime heroics and timely scoring from experienced veterans helped propel the club into the Calder Cup Finals for the first time since 2018.
In the championship series, the Marlies faced the Chicago Wolves and quickly seized control. Led by standout performances from prospects such as Easton Cowan and backed by stellar goaltending from Artur Akhtyamov, Toronto built a commanding series lead and eventually captured the Calder Cup. The championship marked the second Calder Cup title in franchise history and capped off a postseason run defined by resilience, depth, and timely performances from both veterans and prospects. The accomplishment further reinforced the Marlies' reputation as one of the AHL's premier development organizations and provided a promising glimpse into the future of the Maple Leafs' prospect pipeline.
It remains to be seen who will graduate from the Marlies team onto the Leafs in the coming seasons, but in the meantime the boys are just happy to celebrate and reflect on this season's accomplishment. And that includes absolutely body-slamming the Calder Cup apparently. In a video that went viral yesterday Akhtyamov was seen lifting the Cup over his head and then accidentally dropping it behind him. Thankfully though, the Cup's fall was broken by a bin of empty beer cans lol
Check it out:
Boys will be boys...
