Leafs need to address the goaltending.

[Buds17]

Tough explaining what happens with goalies sometimes to cause such a dramatic drop-off from one season to the next.

 

[glue]

Goalie positions in my opinion require the greatest amount of mental fortitude and strength. Unfortunately for leafs we seem to have a pattern of getting guys who don’t have that - Sparks, Campbell, Mrazek and now Samsanov. Woll seems like the type of guy that is strong to not have complete mental breakdowns due to a bad game or 2. Hopefully we start developing or trading for guys like that

 

[Stephen]

Goalie positions in my opinion require the greatest amount of mental fortitude and strength. Unfortunately for leafs we seem to have a pattern of getting guys who don’t have that - Sparks, Campbell, Mrazek and now Samsanov. Woll seems like the type of guy that is strong to not have complete mental breakdowns due to a bad game or 2. Hopefully we start developing or trading for guys like that

I've long maintained that whomever was scouting in net for goaltenders for Toronto has some kind of blind spot when it comes to the technical game and also the mental fortitude and strength as you say.

Sparks, Campbell, Mrazek were all floofs when it came to mental game, and none of them were strong from a sound structural POV, relying more on athleticism than anything else. Samsonov was a freebie so you can't really complain about that, but hopefully that goalie department gets some resources.

 

[Stephen]

Big question is has Samsonov played his last game as a Leaf, or is that date fast approaching on the calendar?

 

[LeafParade]

I know a trade that will cost the Leafs nothing. Samsonov for Hildeby.

 

[VanW27]

Needs to be better, goal 1 and goal 5 can't go in. But for crying out loud help you're goalie out. He saved a bunch of A++ chances between goals 1 and 5, multiple breakaways, guys completely alone in front, and was still completely hung out to dry for 3 more goals against.

 

[Ciao]

I don't think Hildeby is too young to play in the NHL. There's been a lot of goaltenders playing in the NHL at his age.

It's time to send Samsonov down and bring Hildeby up.

Samsonov doesn't belong on an NHL roster right now, and no one is doing him any favours by either starting or sitting him. He needs to go to a lower-level league where he can play his way through his demons.


Frankly, Samsonov would be best off in the ECHL where he can figure things out with some obscurity. This worked for Roy Halliday when he was sent down to A Ball to sort himself out, but this would require Samsonov's consent. He's on a one-way deal so he could have a holiday in Newfoundland and clear his mind for a while.

 

[fahad203]

Big question is has Samsonov played his last game as a Leaf, or is that date fast approaching on the calendar?

He's going to get every opportunity to pull himself together. I would argue he'll be starter on Saturday

 

[sxvnert]

Sign Halak.
Dump Sammy on waivers.
Cap dump Sammy in a trade at the deadline in a D trade.

 

[fahad203]

Sign Halak.
Dump Sammy on waivers.
Cap dump Sammy in a trade at the deadline in a D trade.

Halak is not the answer either. There's no answer right now.
Hoping Woll can come back and regain some of his game

What's left in the market will be overpaid garbage. John Gibson, ewwww

 

[Evilhomer]

He's going to get every opportunity to pull himself together. I would argue he'll be starter on Saturday

I would start him on Saturday, as well. I think sitting him again would be worse from a mental standpoint.

 

[kevsh]

20 GA in their last 4 games (and that includes a SO vs. the Pens) and currently have the 8th worst GA/G in the league.

This is more than just goaltending, this is a hot mess that is not going anywhere in the playoffs praying that the stars carry them and relying on 5-4 wins to advance.

Goaltending, defense. The same problems since Matthews was drafted are still the same problems they have today. And arguably both have gotten overall worse in the past few years.

 

[Rare Jewel]

I want Woll to be the guy, but I can't think of team that is expected to compete and/or contend that has this much of a question mark/inexperience in net.

It's been that way for a while with tandems like Campbell/Mrazek, but I wonder if it needs to be addressed properly.

 

[JKG33]

Halak is not the answer either. There's no answer right now.
Hoping Woll can come back and regain some of his game

What's left in the market will be overpaid garbage. John Gibson, ewwww

Imagine being a fan of a team that has Samsonov as it's starter and calling Gibson the overpaid garbage. He'd be the best Leafs goalie since Belfour, and it's not even close

 

[Darcy Tucker]

He's going to get every opportunity to pull himself together. I would argue he'll be starter on Saturday

Wait, what. You have to go with Jones.

 

[HolyCrap]

Wait, what. You have to go with Jones.

It’s more important to make sure Samsonovs feelings aren’t hurt. He needs to be happy and if it costs the Leafs wins that’s ok. At least this is the arguments from some posters. Lol. Keefe should be canned for playing him lastnight let alone tomorrow.

 

[ToneDog]

I would start him on Saturday, as well. I think sitting him again would be worse from a mental standpoint.

May as well mail Columbus the two points. Sammy needs to sit on the bench until he figures it out or Jones implodes as well.

 

[fahad203]

Imagine being a fan of a team that has Samsonov as it's starter and calling Gibson the overpaid garbage. He'd be the best Leafs goalie since Belfour, and it's not even close

John Gibson is not the goalie you think he is. He hasn't been a top end goalie in about 5 years now.

 

[JKG33]

John Gibson is not the goalie you think he is. He hasn't been a top end goalie in about 5 years now.

Clearly Anaheim games are past your bedtime and/or all you do is stat watch.

Gibson is a top 10 goalie but the Ducks are an absolute dumpster fire, and have been for most of his career. No goalie is gunna look good on a team like that

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Clearly Anaheim games are past your bedtime and/or all you do is stat watch.

Gibson is a top 10 goalie but the Ducks are an absolute dumpster fire, and have been for most of his career. No goalie is gunna look good on a team like that

In what world is Gibson a top 10 goalie?

Sure, he has played a bit better this year compared to the previous 4-5 years of trash. But who the hell would take on 3 more years at 6.4M for mediocre goaltending at best?

 

[Racer88]

I don’t think the worry is that Hildeby is going to be worse as much as it being bad for his development if he gets shelled.

But with as bad as Samsonov and Jones are I dont think they have a choice. They have to give it a try. Call up Hildeby, send down Samsonov to see if he can rebuild his game and go from there.

You know he is going to get shelled. With the D we have and the forwards refusal to have any sort of defensive component to their game it’s a given

 

[Racer88]

John Gibson is not the goalie you think he is. He hasn't been a top end goalie in about 5 years now.

 

[JKG33]

In what world is Gibson a top 10 goalie?

Sure, he has played a bit better this year compared to the previous 4-5 years of trash. But who the hell would take on 3 more years at 6.4M for mediocre goaltending at best?

I've come to realize this over the last few years... Someone's opinion of Gibson is an excellent litmus test for whether or not their opinion on goaltending should be taken seriously.

 

[34]

Very disappointed to see he has not been put on waivers yet. What the heck are they waiting for. This guy is cooked

 

[ToneDog]

Very disappointed to see he has not been put on waivers yet. What the heck are they waiting for. This guy is cooked

I believe due to the holiday roster freeze, you can't. Will they? Doubt it.