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Toronto Maple Leafs: Ilya Samsonov’s Arbitration Hearing Coming Up

By Jeremy Ridgewell |
TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 4: Ilya Samsonov #35 of the Toronto Maple Leafs heads back to the net against the Florida Panthers during Game Two of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 4, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Panthers defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 4: Ilya Samsonov #35 of the Toronto Maple Leafs heads back to the net against the Florida Panthers during Game Two of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 4, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Panthers defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

The Toronto Maple Leafs and restricted free agent goaltender Ilya Samsonov will be attending his arbitration hearing on Friday, July 21. That is unless they come to terms on a new deal before then.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Samsonov have until Friday to continue their ongoing contract negotiations.

If Samsonov wants more than a one-year deal, signing before Friday is ideal. After not being qualified by the Washington Capitals and signed by Toronto to a one-year, $1.8 million deal last summer, Samsonov is one year away from unrestricted free agency, which means he will get a one-year deal out of arbitration.

He could agree to a settlement for one year or more, but the Leafs are likely to want a one-year deal with Samsonov. A one-year deal will walk Samsonov to free agency and keep the salary ask reasonably low. It is possible that Samsonov and the Leafs could agree on a longer-term deal if the salary is reasonable.

An arbitration settlement for Samsonov is estimated to be between $3.5 million-to-$4.5 million. That would put Samsonov’s cap hit in the same range as the buyout of Matt Murray’s final season. Toronto will save $4 million in cap space in the first year of a Matt Murray buyout.

Some suggest that Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving is still trying to trade Murray before the second buyout window opens. The second buyout window doesn’t open for Toronto until after Samsonov’s arbitration decision or settlement agreement.

The 26-year-old Samsonov had a career year registering a 27-10-5 record with a 2.33 GAA and .919 SV% last season. He led the Leafs past the Tampa Bay Lightning for the team’s first playoff series victory in 19 seasons. (Stats from hockey-reference.com)

Toronto Maple Leafs Searching for Third String Goaltender

Should Leafs GM Brad Treliving find a trade partner for Murray or use a buyout, who would become the team’s third-string goaltender? Some indications point toward veteran goaltender Brian Elliott.

Elliott is a 16-year veteran with 543 games played. He has spent the last two seasons in Tampa Bay backing up Lightning starter Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Last season, Elliott registered a 12-8-2 record with a 3.40 GAA and a .891 SV%. He has a little bit of history playing under Treliving. Elliott played for Treliving in Calgary during the 2016-17 season.

There is a good chance the Leafs could sign Elliott to a one-year deal for the league minimum of $750,000.

Predicting the Forward Lines to Start the Season. dark. Next

Elliott as the third guy behind Samsonov and Joseph Woll, is a smart move in case of injuries. With a Murray buyout and Erik Kallgren leaving for New Jersey in free agency, the Leafs are left with AHL goalies with little to no NHL experience.

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