Confirmed with Link: TOR sign G Ilya Samsonov to 1 year, 1.8M deal

[justashadowof]

Nice little potential perk to this type of free agent, he's an RFA next summer.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Apparently, Ilya wanted to sign him a 1 year. show me and prove himself that I am more than this...makes me like this signing even more.

Combined with what I heard on the podcast (see below), this is good news if true.

Talented guy but how motivated is he to put in the needed work is the big question. So yeah if what you say is true, that is very good news indeed as the motivation question would be 100% answered!

Good listen. Recommend. Curtis Sanford coming over as goalie coach after working with mentor Ian Clark in Vancouver could be a huge next step at the professional level depending how open Murray and Samsonov are to refining their games. Sounds like both already have started the process in the last year so there is hope.

I almost never listen to podcasts but because this is such an interesting topic, I gave this a listen. Very interesting, thanks for sharing !

 

[leburn98]

I was hoping the Leafs would take a stab at Samsonov the second I heard the Caps didn't qualify him. A Murray/Samsonov tandem is pretty solid. Kallgren/Hutch isn't bad for a 3/4 either. Also gives the Leafs some flexibility to re-sign Matthews in a couple years.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

Not bad. Just hope he can handle the workload if Murray ends up on the shelf.

 

[Buds17]

Hoping that the short contract is a motivator. The potential is there and the opportunity figures to be as well.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Samsonov not getting a qualifying offer from Washington was somewhat of a surprise, so credit to Dubas for pouncing on the opportunity. As soon as he became available, he was my preferred target in free agency.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Samsonov not getting a qualifying offer from Washington was somewhat of a surprise, so credit to Dubas for pouncing on the opportunity. As soon as he became available, he was my preferred target in free agency.

Two reclamation projects is where we are in net for a team going for it

 

[Clark4Ever]

Two reclamation projects is where we are in net for a team going for it

Most goaltenders, even those with a successful track record, have been considered reclamation projects at some point in their careers.

Jack Campbell is most certainly one of them given his history and the season he just had.

 

[Havoc]

Two reclamation projects is where we are in net for a team going for it

There's only like 2-3 goalies in the entire universe who are good regardless what team you put them on. 90% of the leagues goalies have the potential to fall into reclamation project.

Between murray and ilya we can be fairly confident at least 1 of them is a good fit here. I don't think goaltending is an issue at the moment. If both of them blow their knees or something then it's time to panic.

 

[TheFamousFart]

Hats off for an great signing for Leafs! Maybe Dubas had a day off?

 

[htpwn]

I like the signing, but still don't like the idea of a Murray/Samsonov tandem next year. Especially with Campbell only ending up getting a touch more than what we are paying the former. Hopefully my pessimism proves unwarranted.

 

[Racer88]

Because you now have a tandem that has stanley cup pedigree and cam with 2 picks and retention, while the other has had good runs and was a 1st round pick - and it is only costing the Leafs $6.7 million in cap space.

It's an upgrade from last season, more specifically the last half season, and has a much higher ceiling possibility too.

We now have a tandem that has a cup pedigree from 5-6 years ago but has been injured and largely awful the last 3 years and an unproven goalie.
I hope you are correct that it’s an upgrade but I guess only time will tell.

This is a no brainer move and a good deal. In fact this is generally what Dubas does, Matt Murray notwithstanding. This guy in Washington never seemed to have the confidence of his coaches or team mates. His lack of confidence showed in his play... i'd almost call it hesitant and not instinctual... First round pedigree, physically fine.. simply lost as a goaltender and needs to have a reset.

I guess you have to ask why he didn’t have the confidence of his coach or team mates

 

[Menzinger]

everyone on this forum thinking Samsonov has med elite rating, this is not EA NHL 22, he was not qualified by a team that made the playoffs last year because they don't believe a $3m investment on a 25 year old goalie that they spent time developing is not worth it. Nick Ritchie anyone.

Kampf turned out pretty good. The Hawks no doubt would like him back

 

[RebuildYear5]

Our Goalies, RW & LD look solid and should be kept intact...Center needs someone big and defensive, Left wing can get a pass for now especially if Simmonds can find his game again....Right defense needs help if we're to be competitive, we have depth just need someone just like our goalies low risk high reward if they hit.....Subban is our guy I'm confident he will help our team on and off the ice.

Kerfoot 100% needs to be traded, remind me what he offers for 3.5M that we cant get for 1M on the market atm?

If Kyle moves Kerfoot and signs Engvall, Sandin & P.K we're left with around 1-3M too sign our 3rd line Center.

Centers
Matthews
Tavares

Kampf

LW
Robertson
Bunting
Simmonds
Engvall?

RW
Marner
Nylander
Anderson
Aube-Kubel

LD
Rielly
Sandin
Muzzin
Giordano

RD
Subban?
Brodie
Liljegren
Holl

Goalies
Murray
Samsonov

 

[saltming]

Well, the Capitals signed Charlie Lindgren to $1.1M for 3 years after not qualifying Samsonov.

I championed the idea of signing Lindgren to Toronto...Not sure how I feel about Samsonov at the moment given that particular cycle.

I believe it was more about the 3+ million qualifier her would get

 

[Maple Leaf]

not miuch cap room so good
unlike murry

 

[kb]

I like the signing, but still don't like the idea of a Murray/Samsonov tandem next year. Especially with Campbell only ending up getting a touch more than what we are paying the former. Hopefully my pessimism proves unwarranted.

The way I look at it is......would one rather have 5 years of Campbell and his spotty performance/health history for $5 Million, or 2 years of Murray and his cup winning pedigree (but with bigger health questions) at $4.7 million? Legitimate arguments could be made either way.

Unless a team has a near generational goalie (Shesterkin, Vasi), IMO teams shouldn't want to over commit in $$$ or AAV.

 

[Stephen]

Samsonov is 1 year younger than Kallgren, and 1 year older than Woll so that gives you a pretty good idea of how young he still is. Some ups and downs in his early career but still so much upside in an athletic package that was highly rated not so long ago. I like it for the pure upside and he's still an RFA at the end of the year.

 

[LastOne2100]

Absolutely love this move and this contract, and the fact that Samsonov will still be an RFA if this works out.

I think Samsonov still has a chance to be the goalie of the future.

Really takes the sting off of the Murray trade.

 

[PanniniClaus]

We now have a tandem that has a cup pedigree from 5-6 years ago but has been injured and largely awful the last 3 years and an unproven goalie.
I hope you are correct that it’s an upgrade but I guess only time will tell.


I guess you have to ask why he didn’t have the confidence of his coach or team mates

He wasn't playing well, for the reasons i noted. Chicken or egg i'm not sure but he never looked confident a single game i watched the Caps play. This signing would be good even if we brought Jack back.. which e ought to have done but it is what it is at this point. No choice but to support Murray, Samsonov and Kallgren... and yes we will need at least three goaltenders as there is no chance Murray even plays half the games.

 

[WillyC]

Just my opinion, however, I’ve felt, ever since we got Fred and then Jack, we’re trying to turn very good backup goalies into #1 starters… and we did that with both, because it’s the Toronto Maple Leafs team and management that did that.

Jack basically became awesome from practicing against M&M everyday and working with MLSE.

Now we got 2 starters headed to Leafs practice… one, at 28 with 2 Stanley Cups looking to regain what he had 5 years ago, and one, 25, a former 1st rounder, who’s betting on himself with a one year deal.

I think they both play well from practicing against M&M and we absolutely dominate the entire league… and quite possibly start the playoffs as the #1 seed.

IMO, both guys play lights out in net as they watch Auston Matthews flirt with 70 goals for their new team.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Absolutely love this move and this contract, and the fact that Samsonov will still be an RFA if this works out.

I think Samsonov still has a chance to be the goalie of the future.

Really takes the sting off of the Murray trade.

Retaining his rights is awesome

 

[HockeyVirus]

Here's the other problem I see with this: You've got two guys who want to be the starter. They're both somewhat young, these kind of tandems rarely end well for all parties involved.

You need two guys who know their place in the pecking order. Neither one of these guys will want to "settle" in a backup or 1B role

Yeah who likes competition on their roster

 

[stealth1]

It was better than free. 25% discount and 2 draft picks received, and only $6.7 cap space used upgrade the goalie tandem over last year's complete disaster post New Years.

That's not saying much.

 

[mydnyte]

same thing i posted in the frenzy thread...
I really like this deal, i think Samsonov has tons of potential ...Murray, not so much
Dubas put his job on the line, either he laughs at everyone, or he prepares his resume.