The Toronto Maple Leafs summoned goaltender Ilya Samsonov from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, the NHL club announced Wednesday.
The Leafs sent Samsonov down on New Year’s Day after waiving him one day prior. However, he didn’t play a game with the Marlies, as the parent club’s plan for him was to simply work with the goalie coaches and support staff while the Leafs were on a three-game road trip in California. They’ve since returned, defeating the San Jose Sharks 7-1 on home ice Tuesday night.
Samsonov has struggled mightily this season after impressing in 2021-22. He has the fourth-fewest goals saved above average at five-on-five in the NHL (minus-7.39) and the 11th-fewest goals saved above expected (minus-4.72) in those situations in 2023-24, according to Evolving Hockey.
The Russian netminder has the NHL’s worst GSAx and GSAA in all situations this season. He’s 5-2-6 with a .862 save percentage in 15 games.
Samsonov, who’ll turn 27 on Feb. 22, is coming off a 2022-23 campaign in which he went 27-10-5 with a .919 save percentage. The Leafs rewarded him with a one-year, $3.55-million contract over the summer.
Martin Jones has taken over as Toronto’s No. 1 goalie of late, starting the club’s last five games. He’s won the last four, posting a .972 save percentage in that span while allowing only three goals on 106 shots. Joseph Woll had previously taken the reins, but he hasn’t played since he got injured Dec. 7.
The Leafs sent Dennis Hildeby back down to the Marlies in a corresponding move Wednesday. They called him up when they sent Samsonov down, but Hildeby didn’t get into any games during his call-up. Jones started back-to-back wins over the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks on Jan. 2 and 3.
