An arbitrator will rule on the goaltender’s salary for the 2023-24 season.

Ilya Samsonov and the Toronto Maple Leafs have begun their arbitration hearing and a third party will now decide on a new one-year contract for the goaltender, The Hockey News has learned.

Samsonov and the Leafs were set for arbitration on Friday. An agreement outside of arbitration was possible up until the hearings began. A change in the NHL's collective bargaining agreement in 2020 was made that states that agreements outside of arbitration are no longer possible once a hearing begins.

An arbitrator will now rule on a new one-year deal for the 26-year-old Russian goalie. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported earlier in the week that Samsonov's side came in with an arbitration ask of $4.9 million. The Leafs countered with $2.4 million. 

With Samsonov's side electing to file for arbitration, the Leafs would normally have a chance to decide if the award was a one or two-year term. Because Samsonov is one year away from unrestricted free agency, the term can only be a maximum of one year.

If the arbitrator rules on a salary above the walkaway number of $4,538,958, the Leafs will have the option to decline to sign the goaltender, who would then immediately become an unrestricted free agent.

The Leafs are projected to be about $8 million over the salary cap according to Puckpedia.com. However, that doesn't include a likely long-term injured reserve exception for Jake Muzzin at a $5.625 million cap savings. Once Samsonov's case is settled the Maple Leafs have another buyout window that opens, at which point they may elect to buy out goaltender Matt Murray, if the player is deemed healthy.  

Samsonov is coming off his best season in the NHL. Signed to a one-year, $1.8 million contract last summer, he posted a career-best .919 save percentage and helped backstop the club to their first playoff series victory in 19 years.

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