Vyacheslav Peksa

September 2026 – Peksa’s time in the Toronto organization ended after a difficult 2025-26 campaign – 12 AHL appearances with the Marlies produced a 3.78 GAA and .869 save percentage as the third option behind Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov. With Hildeby now departed, the decision not to retain Peksa is telling. He returns to the Russian VHL, where an early strong showing hints at the potential that made him an interesting draft pick – though the window for a North American comeback is closed for the time being. Toronto moves on to Timofei Obvintsev in the organizational goaltending queue as Peksa rebuilds his career overseas. Ryan Downey

September 2025 – Peksa saw time in the ECHL in 2024-2025 with the logjam of AHL netminders who are further ahead of him on the depth chart. With the Leafs running with  Woll and Stolarz in the NHL, and just signing Hildeby to a contract, Peksa and Artur Akhtyamov are left to battle for the AHL backup or ECHL starter role.

That Peksa was relegated to the ECHL doesn’t bode well for his proximity to the NHL in the Leafs organization, and he is not worth a stash at present. In deep leagues, where goalies are hard to come by, one could watchlist Peksa and see if he improves on his 2.68 GAA and .904 in the ECHL, or earn more certain deployment in the AHL. Alex Wyatt

January 2025 – In a crowded Marlies depth chart with Hildeby and Akhtyamov ahead of him, Peksa is doing little to prove himself a challenger for a spot in the AHL with another sub-.900SV% season in the ECHL. A disappointing year so far for Peksa who struggles with rebound control and adapting to the speed of pro Hockey. A loan back to Russia may be better for him than struggling in the ECHL. Austin Kelly

December 2023 – It has been a rough start to Peksa’s career in North America. Assigned to the ECHL with the Newfoundland Growlers, the Russian goalie has a woeful .845 save percentage along with a 5.08 GAA in his four starts so far this season. With Luke Cavallin playing well and Peksa struggling to find his footing, it may be awhile before we see him get a string of games as the true starting goalie. Curtis Rines

June 2023 – Peksa had a successful transition from the MHL to the VHL full-time in 2022-23. The Russian goaltender played 40 games between the pipes for Bars Kazan and had a 13-19-6 record with a .921 save percentage. Looking towards next season, Bars Kazan already have two proven goaltenders signed at the KHL level so at the moment it looks like Peksa will spend at least one more year in the VHL pending any major moves this offseason. Curtis Rines

December 2022 – Like Artur Akhtyamov, Peksa has been excellent in the VHL this season. As the starter for Bars Kazan, Peksa holds a .920 save percentage and a 2.31 GAA with a 12-14-4 record. Considering Bars Kazan has been a bottom-half team (mostly due to the lack of goal-scoring), it is promising to see Peksa still perform at a high level. Some game time in the KHL will be the next step in his development. Curtis Rines

May 2022 – A relative unknown when he was drafted by the Maple Leafs in the 2021 draft, Peksa had an outstanding season in the MHL and took strides towards carving out a place on the organizational depth chart. Through 56 regular season games with Irbis Kazan, he registered a record of 30-17-8, including nine shutouts, to go along with a 1.79 GAA and .936 SV%. He surrendered the starting job to fellow Leafs prospect Artur Akhtyamov ahead of the postseason when he was sent down after Kazan’s VHL squad was eliminated, but regained control of the crease and led his club to within one victory of an appearance in the MHL finals. There have been rumors that Kazan’s VHL squad won’t be operating next year so there is some uncertainty as to where Peksa will play in the 2022-23 season but the Leafs have to be thrilled with how his 2021-22 season played out. Nick Richard

August 2021 – Peksa was selected in the sixth round, 185th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2021 NHL Draft. He spent the 2020-21 season with Irbis Kazan of the MHL, playing in the same system as fellow Leafs goaltending prospect Artur Akhtyamov. Through 17 games, Peksa had a record of 8-5-2 to go along with a 2.57 GAA and .909 SV%. Nick Richard