Amir Miftakhov

Amir Rustemovich Miftakhov is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League, under minor league assignment from the Carolina Hurricanes in the National Hockey League. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the sixth round, 186th overall, of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Miftakhov progressed through the youth ranks of Ak Bars Kazan, one of the most prominent hockey organizations in Russia. He made his professional debut with Ak Bars Kazan in the Kontinental Hockey League.
On May 3, 2021, Miftakhov signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the team that had drafted him, with the deal set to start in the 2021–22 season.
Miftakhov made his North American debut on October 27, 2021, playing for the Syracuse Crunch, where he stopped 29 of 31 shots in a 3–2 overtime victory against the Hershey Bears and picked up an assist on the winning goal. Just three games later, he earned his first North American shutout with a 4–0 win over the Laval Rocket. However, after struggling to establish himself within the Lightning organization during his only season in North America, Miftakhov was placed on unconditional waivers and, after clearing them on July 2, 2022, his contract was mutually terminated.
Miftakhov spent three seasons back with his hometown team, Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL, before making another bid for the NHL by signing a one-year, two-way deal with the Carolina Hurricanes for the season on July 1, 2025. On September 28, 2025, Miftakhov was reassigned by the Hurricanes to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League.