Explaining Ilya Samsonov’s arbitration case with the Toronto Maple Leafs and why letting it get to that point is a loss for the club. With Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll set to share the Toronto Maple Leafs net for the upcoming season, there has been a lot of talk about if the club should go after another veteran in the event either one of them goes down. THE CONCERN IS VALID. Samsonov played in 42 games last season. It's expected the Leafs will want to have him play more than that. But the Russian netminder had a few injuries to work through in 2022-23. On Nov. 5, he injured his knee while trying to stop a penalty shot from Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv8E8eJ-KDQ[/embed] Toward the end of the season, he was playing through an undisclosed injury and that was used to give him some time off while Toronto was going through its Amateur tryout goalie dance. There was a neck injury he sustained in Game 3 of the club's second-round series against the Florida Panthers. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMs0p30Wj-I[/embed] Woll also has his fair share of injury issues. He missed the end of the 2021-22 season with the Marlies and the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign with a shoulder injury and had an ankle issue that extended his absence further. But unless an injury forces their hand, they should not consider getting an additional goaltender at this point. LEAFS WAIVER WOES Before the start of the season, every NHL club cuts their roster down and has to put anyone who requires waivers on the waiver wire. Skaters usually have no issues passing through, but goalies are a different story. A nightmare the Maple Leafs know all too well. Before the start of the 2018-19 season, the Maple Leafs placed goaltenders Curtis McElhinney and Calvin Pickard on waivers, opting to keep Garret Sparks as the No. 2 goalie behind starter Frederik Andersen. Sparks did not require waivers at the time. On Oct. 2, 2018, both McElhinney and Pickard were claimed by other clubs. McElhinney went to the Carolina Hurricanes and Pickard was claimed by the Philadelphia Flyers. On Oct. 13, 2020, the Maple Leafs signed Aaron Dell to a one-year, $800,000 contract. When the season began, the club kept Dell on their roster waiting for a time they felt they could send him down without losing him to waivers. On Jan. 18, the Leafs lost Dell on waivers after the New Jersey Devils picked him up. Dell never played a game for the Leafs, although he did dress as a backup to Jack Campbell for one contest. On Mar. 20, 2022, the Maple Leafs signed Harri Sateri to a one-year contract. Because he has just come from the KHL, the goaltender required waivers before he could join the club. The very next day, the Arizona Coyotes claimed Sateri. This season, Woll required waivers so sending him up and down when Samsonov is playing is not a luxury the Leafs will have this season without the risk of losing him. LEAFS STILL HAVE MURRAY The Maple Leafs announced that they intend to place Matt Murray on LTIR at the start of the season and he is out indefinitely. if the Leafs find themselves where they need another goaltender after Samsonov and Woll and they have the LTIR room due to other injuries, there is nothing that stops Toronto from using that money to activate Murray if he's deemed healthy at the time. Toronto's next options are Keith Petruzzell and Dennis Hildeby, who are expected to be the tandem goalies with the Marlies. Neither have NHL experience, although Petruzzelli did dress up as a backup to Erik Kallgren when Samsonov and Murray were both out with injuries. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The roster, in how it's currently constructed, doesn't leave room for the Leafs room to add a third goaltender. Any viable option would require waivers in October and would likely get claimed by another one of 31 teams that are likely to have some sort of injury issue come up at training camp. Toronto's best course of action, if needed, would be to try and be one of those teams going to the waiver wire if, and only if, needed. Related Did Radko Gudas Actually Spurn Interest From the Maple Leafs Because of the Media Spotlight? 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