Samsonov spent the last week working with the Toronto Marlies but never got into any game action with the club.
Samsonov spent the last week working with the Toronto Marlies but never got into any game action with the club.
Ilya Samsonov is back with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The club announced on Wednesday that they have recalled the struggling goaltender from the Toronto Marlies and sent down goaltender Dennis Hildeby.
Samsonov is 5-2-6 this season with an .862 save percentage. The Leafs waived Samsonov on Jan. 1 and sent him to the Toronto Marlies the following day after he cleared. Maple Leafs management intended to give him a "mental reset" as described by GM Brad Treliving. He did not get into games with the Marlies and worked exclusively with goaltending coach Hannu Toivonen.
Hildeby, Toronto's fourth-round selection (122nd overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft was never used in his brief time with the Leafs. The club was apprehensive about ruining the goaltender's development, given it was his first year playing in North America while with the Marlies.
Instead, the Maple Leafs started Martin Jones in goal for five consecutive games, including back-to-back victories against the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks.
Starting as Toronto's third goaltending option this season, Jones is 8-3-0 with a .934 save percentage. Joseph Woll, who took over the starting goaltending duties for much of this season, was injured on Dec. 7 with a high ankle sprain. He has returned to the ice over the last couple of days but is still "a ways away" from returning to game action, according to the Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe.
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