Slovakian Olympian Samuel Hlavaj joins the Maple Leafs on a one-year deal, bringing international pedigree and heavy AHL experience to bolster Toronto’s organizational depth between the pipes.
Former Minnesota Wild goaltender Samuel Hlavaj has found a new home, signing a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs after becoming an unrestricted free agent earlier this summer.
The 6-foot-4 goaltender's deal carries an $850,000 cap hit for the 2026-27 season.
Hlavaj, 25, spent the past two seasons in the Wild organization after signing with Minnesota in April 2024.
While he never appeared in an NHL game, the 218-pound netminder played 58 games with the Iowa Wild in the American Hockey League, posting a 21-25-9 record across two seasons.
During the 2024-25 season, Hlavaj appeared in 36 games for Iowa, recording a 2.85 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage while also making five appearances with the ECHL's Iowa Heartlanders. He returned to Iowa last season, appearing in 22 games and going 7-11-2 with a 3.28 goals-against average and a .887 save percentage.
Internationally, Hlavaj has built an impressive résumé representing Slovakia. He posted a .929 save percentage in three Olympic Qualifying games in 2024 before helping Slovakia at both the 2025 and 2026 IIHF World Championships.
He also turned heads at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he represented his country against the world's best players.
Before arriving in North America, Hlavaj was named the QMJHL Defensive Rookie of the Year and captured the Jacques Plante Trophy as the league's top goaltender in 2019-20.
He also won a Slovak Extraliga championship in 2021-22 and has twice been named one of Slovakia's top three players at the IIHF World Championship.
The Maple Leafs continue to bolster their organizational goaltending depth with the addition of Hlavaj, who will look to earn a larger role within Toronto's system after spending the past two seasons developing in the Wild organization.
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