Goaltending

[Stephen]

I think Samsonov will bounce back nicely against Dallas this week, and I think the team will continue to tighten up its overall defense. People are reading too much into what are usually pretty disorganized early season games, especially for teams with a lot of new players like the Leafs. Just like Domi and Knies turned things around, so will Samsonov.

I think Samsonov will level out too. But the lack of trust will remain because he has this very unpredictable floor.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I think Samsonov will level out too. But the lack of trust will remain because he has this very unpredictable floor.

It didn't end well last year with him and hasn't started well this year...my level of belief in him is quite low now.

That wasn't NHL goaltending at all last night.

 

[Stephen]

It didn't end well last year with him and hasn't started well this year...my level of belief in him is quite low now.

That wasn't NHL goaltending at all last night.

Like I said, he's been giving them Jack Campbell ups and downs and I don't think there's appetite for a Russian Soup.

 

[Judas Tavares]

Woll may not have many games under his belt, but at one point, every NHL goalie only had 13 games under their belt. Until they had 14. And 15. Then 80. If a goalie is going to become a starter and even go on to have a great career, they have to start somewhere. If he continues to play well, keep playing him and eventually it won't be a concern that he's inexperienced.

 

[fancy lad]

Woll should be the number one. Until he proves he can’t be. Then you try samsonov again or look elsewhere.

until then you go with woll for the majority of games. You do because he’s a better goalie. He just is. he showed it last Year and he’s showing it again.

and its Important to say that he’s not THAT young. He’s 25. Id say he’s ready for the challenge.

 

[Stephen]

Woll may not have many games under his belt, but at one point, every NHL goalie only had 13 games under their belt. Until they had 14. And 15. Then 80. If a goalie is going to become a starter and even go on to have a great career, they have to start somewhere. If he continues to play well, keep playing him and eventually it won't be a concern that he's inexperienced.

Yep just let him build good days on good days and good periods into good games and good games into a resume.

Samsonov's regression to a hot mess is really not appreciated.

 

[Evilhomer]

Woll should be the number one. Until he proves he can’t be. Then you try samsonov again or look elsewhere.

until then you go with woll for the majority of games. You do because he’s a better goalie. He just is. he showed it last Year and he’s showing it again.

and its Important to say that he’s not THAT young. He’s 25. Id say he’s ready for the challenge.

Woll's run as the number one goalie will end at one game. Samsonov will be in net against Dallas on Thursday, and I would be willing to bet that he dominates that game.

 

[fancy lad]

Woll's run as the number one goalie will end at one game. Samsonov will be in net against Dallas on Thursday, and I would be willing to bet that he dominates that game.

If woll plays well in Washington I can’t see Keefe going back to samsonov so soon.

if woll looks shaky, then yeah, but so far woll has yet to look shaky at any point in his young career.

 

[Nineteen67]

I still think Woll is the best option short term and long term and they should play him 50+ games to see how he does.
They’ll have cap space beginning next year and it would be nice to know if the goaltending situation is clear.

 

[RunItBackAgain]

I still think Woll is the best option short term and long term and they should play him 50+ games to see how he does.
They’ll have cap space beginning next year and it would be nice to know if the goaltending situation is clear.

GP last 4 years (his pro career): 32,19,15,33.

 

[Nineteen67]

GP last 4 years (his pro career): 32,19,15,33.

Agreed, it’s time to find out if he’s the answer. It’d be ideal if management could knock goaltending of the list of needs, especially with the amount of work that must be done in the short amount have time they have left.

 

[Evilhomer]

If woll plays well in Washington I can’t see Keefe going back to samsonov so soon.

if woll looks shaky, then yeah, but so far woll has yet to look shaky at any point in his young career.

Washington is a pretty dreadful team, so I don't think Keefe will use that game as a measuring stick for anyone, including Woll. He will likely end up with a pretty uneventful win, with most of the game spent in Washington's end. Even if Woll gets a shutout, I think Samsonov will start in Dallas.

 

[TheTotalPackage]

I honestly don't know if Woll is the long-term solution, but the only way to find out is to let him run with the ball for a bit and see what he's got. He's still young in goalie terms and "homegrown". It'd be nice to see the Leafs having developed a goalie after all these years.

The one benefit Keefe has that he can afford is that both goalies are battling for playing time, so it'll force an internal competition. One has a good string of games, you run with him. One falters, like Samsonov did the other night, and you hope the other seizes the opportunity like Woll did. It's not like he is tied to a big-money 1A who is not pulling his weight and has to optically go back to him constantly.

Like the adage is about work -- the only way to get experience is to work. However, the only way to gain experience is if someone gives you the opportunity. This may be the time Keefe let's Woll gain his experience beyond spot backup duties.

 

[saltming]

If woll plays well in Washington I can’t see Keefe going back to samsonov so soon.

if woll looks shaky, then yeah, but so far woll has yet to look shaky at any point in his young career.

He made a leap to start last year. I think the goalie coach change did him wonders. He looks way more stable on his knees since the switch.

 

[Rob Brown]

I still think Woll is the best option short term and long term and they should play him 50+ games to see how he does.
They’ll have cap space beginning next year and it would be nice to know if the goaltending situation is clear.

I don't think he's getting 50+ games unless Samsonov is hurt. Much more likely that they will roll 50/50 for most of the year and then start the playoffs with whoever was better down the stretch and played more.

 

[Nineteen67]

I don't think he's getting 50+ games unless Samsonov is hurt. Much more likely that they will roll 50/50 for most of the year and then start the playoffs with whoever was better down the stretch and played more.

41 games should be enough know If they’re good going forward. Goaltending is the least of their problems right now and they have time to figure it out. However it would be nice to know Woll is the answer going in to next year and beyond.

 

[JKG33]

No more Samsonov... he's basically an emotionally fragile, athletically talented but zero control kind of goalie like Jack Campbell with big structural flaws and inability to track the play without getting into a panic. He's obviously going to play better over a long stretch and even be brilliant, but those fundamentals aren't going to go away and it's not worth building with him.

If only someone would've said that before the season started...

But oh no, he put up good stats one year in his career so he must be amazing right guys???

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Woll should, and will, get 30-35 starts this year .. Sammy will get balance as teams current #1 .. which he earned in round 1 win last playoffs .. only reason it changes is if Sammy falls off da map

 

[Evilhomer]

Woll should, and will, get 30-35 starts this year .. Sammy will get balance as teams current #1 .. which he earned in round 1 win last playoffs .. only reason it changes is if Sammy falls off da map

I think this is right, although I'm not sure Woll will hit 35 games absent a serious injury to Samsonov.

 

[hoglund]

Sams

Woll should, and will, get 30-35 starts this year .. Sammy will get balance as teams current #1 .. which he earned in round 1 win last playoffs .. only reason it changes is if Sammy falls off da map

Samsonov allowed 3 goals on 4 shots 0.25 save percentage, that's "fall off da map" in my opinion.

 

[34]

I think you have to go with Woll now. See if he can take the job.

 

[cyris]

I think people need to manage their expectations a bit. Unless Sammy gets hurt there is no way that the team is going to just start handling him the majority of starts right now.
He has never played more than 37 games in a season at any level and he has an injury history.

It’s not that I don’t believe in Woll or that I think Samsonov should be the starter. It’s just practical. If you believe Woll could or will be the starter when the playoffs start they are going to need to manage his workload to get him there.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Sams

Samsonov allowed 3 goals on 4 shots 0.25 save percentage, that's "fall off da map" in my opinion.

This is preseason garbage hockey with tons of brutal D going on everywhere in almost every game league wide .. and most of goals Sammy has given up were bad screens and tips which either hit a tender or not .. those even out over a season .. da hockey gods

 

[BigBlu]

What’s Woll’s save percentage this year?

 

[Peasy]

What’s Woll’s save percentage this year?

.963sv% and increasing