The Toronto Maple Leafs’ options in goal looked a lot better following the first day of NHL free agency. On Wednesday, they signed former Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov to a one-year, $1.8 million contract.
The Russian played in 44 games last season and he essentially split the goaltending duties with Vitek Vanecek. But with Washington’s need to improve their situation in goal, they went out and signed free agent Darcy Kuemper to a five-year, $26.25 million. Two days prior, they relinquished the rights to Samsonov by not tendering him a qualifying offer.
“The thing that really stood out to me more than anything was that he really wanted it to be a one-year show me, bet-on-yourself type deal, which is not always common with players coming of this shock of being non Q-O’d when he wasn’t expecting it,” Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said of Samsonov. “That was impressive to me and combined with the evaluation of our goaltending department of what he can become if we can work with him, get him and get him on the right track.”
Samsonov is the other half of a massive bet in goal that the Leafs made this week. On Monday, they acquired Matt Murray from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a …

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Author: David Alter / The Leafs Nation