The team and player had to file arbitration briefs two days before the hearing is set to begin.
The team and player had to file arbitration briefs two days before the hearing is set to begin.
Ilya Samsonov has reportedly come in with a salary ask of $4.9 million for the upcoming season, while the Maple Leafs have counted with a $2.4 million claim as both sides submitted their arbitration briefs on Wednesday morning, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Samsonov and the Maple Leafs are set to go to arbitration on Friday unless both sides can come to an agreement before then.
Although arbitration awards can be one or two years, in Samsonov's case, the final award will come in at one year, since the goaltender is one season away from unrestricted free agency.
Both sides can continue to negotiate a new contract until the arbitration hearing begins. Friedman told the NHL Network on Tuesday that the Leafs are not looking for anything longer than three years on a new deal for the Russian goaltender.
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Samsonov's ask of $4.9 million is above the arbitration walk-away number of $4,538,958. In the event that an arbitrator awards Samsonov a one-year deal above that number, the Leafs have the option to 'walk away' from any obligation to Samsonov and let the goaltender become an unrestricted free agent.
In looking for comparables, Samsonov's camp can only use comparables to other goaltenders who signed contracts as restricted free agents.
The 26-year-old goaltender is coming off his best season in the NHL. After joining the Leafs on a one-year, $1.8 million contract last summer, the goaltender had a 27-10-5 record with a .919 save percentage in 42 games and beat out Matt Murray for the team's starting goalie position.
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