Maple Leafs Assistant GM Ryan Hardy Explains Akhtyamov Playing More Than Hildeby With Marlies
While the Toronto Marlies have an outstanding goaltending tandem, Artur Akhtyamov has had the net for the majority of the AHL Calder Cup playoffs. Toronto Maple Leafs assistant GM and Marlies GM Ryan Hardy explains how it got here.
Video Transcript
Marlies become the first AHL team to win three deciding series games in a row.
I was at, game four in Toronto.
They are undefeated since I went, 2-0. but, Mike Augello, how are they doing it?
Well, they're depending a lot on their veteran players, you know, like the Vinny Leteris and the Logan Shaws.
But, you know, as the playoffs have gone along, the guys who got called up by the Leafs and then were not played that much by Craig Berube, William Villeneuve, Jacob Quillen, Luke Haymes, they have played much better and they've contributed.
and you know, Easton Cowan I think had started a little s- I think he's a little gassed from playing a lot of games in the NHL.
Mm-hmm.
But he scored a big goal last night with 12 seconds left to go to give the Marlies the victory.
Now they play Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Eastern Conference Final.
I think the most, impactful thing here could be that their head coach might be a candidate for the Maple Leafs job, is John Gruden, who is well thought of- and sort of has the same type of resume as Dan Muse before Dan Muse got the Pittsburgh job.
You know, he could be a legitimate candidate, and I would rather go with a guy like John Gruden over a bunch of retreads like, Jay Woodcroft or Bruce Cassidy if the Leafs are gonna go in a positive direction.
Yeah, you know what?
I had the same thought where you- And John Gruden has previously coached Austin Matthews back with the NTDP way back when.
and the Marlies, you know, they're a low seed team.
Like, they are upsetting.
They are making some upsets here.
