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6 Burning Questions Ahead of 2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs Season

By Stephen Nixon

Mar 1, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Ottawa Senators goaltender Matt Murray (30) makes a save against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Ottawa Senators goaltender Matt Murray (30) makes a save against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
Mar 1, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Ottawa Senators goaltender Matt Murray (30)  . Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: Can Either Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov Become a Good Starting Goalie?

For the second offseason in a row, the Toronto Maple Leafs decided to walk away from their starting goalie in free agency and give the reigns to someone new.

Two years ago, the Leafs let Freddie Andersen walk and gave the keys to Jack Campbell and now, Campbell’s been let-go in replace of Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov.

If you’re a gambler, the safest bet would be to assume that Samsonov and Murray will falter. However, that doesn’t mean that the Leafs can’t win around them.

Over the past few years, they’ve overcome goaltender troubles and have still been a successful regular season team. Obviously they didn’t win in the playoffs, but it wasn’t because of their goalies.

Personally, I think the two of them will continue to battle it out until the NHL Trade Deadline and then the Leafs ultimately make a move on one of them and acquire another goalie for the stretch.

That’s obviously not the answer Leafs fans want to hear, but I have zero confidence in this tandem, until they prove me wrong.

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