Toronto Maple Leafs head coach, Sheldon Keefe, had some interesting comments regarding the team’s goaltending situation following their 6-5 victory on opening night.
The Toronto Maple Leafs coach (not to mention Samsonov’s play in the first two games of the season) has raised the possibility that Joseph Woll may assume the role of the starting goalie sooner rather than later.
Ilya Samsonov played a pivotal role last year, particularly in the Leafs inability to progress beyond the Florida Panthers. However, it wasn’t due to his performance but rather his health. This situation forced the rookie Woll into circumstances he may not have been fully prepared for.
Woll displayed unexpected competence during Games 4 and 5, which he was prepared for, but faced challenges during Game 3 when he had to step in for Samsonov. As the 2023-24 season commences, we are witnessing a competition for the position of the team’s starting goalie.
Discussing Samsonov earlier this week, Keefe mentioned that he “expects a similar distribution of starts between Samsonov and Woll as we witnessed early last season with Samsonov and Murray” (as reported by TSN’s Mark Masters).
Recalling last season, Murray sustained an injury during the first week but, upon his return in November, played 19 games before getting injured again in January. By the halfway point of the season, Murray had started 42 percent of the games, even though he was injured for 13 games.
Essentially, when healthy, Murray started 60 percent of those games, which is surprising given his inconsistent performance last year. Better goaltending could have possibly positioned the Leafs as contenders for the Atlantic Division.
Expect Joseph Woll To Contend for the Toronto Maple Leafs Net
For the first time in 30 years, the Leafs have drafted and developed a future starting goaltender. Though he isn’t quite there yet, Woll is being groomed to take the helm for the 2024-25 season, if not sooner.
With just 11 regular season games and a few playoff appearances under his belt, Woll appears ready for the next step. Keefe’s comments imply a shared workload between Woll and Samsonov in the first half of the season.
Considering Samsonov’s subpar performance in the home opener, increased competition could work to the Leafs’ advantage. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Woll emerge as the team’s starter come playoff time.
Samsonov has one year left on his contract and is set to become a UFA next season, whereas Woll’s salary is $776K. If the team can develop Woll as their starting goalie this year and boost his confidence for the 2024-25 season, it would extend their competitive window, allowing for substantial improvements to the rest of the roster without a hefty goalie expense.
A similar scenario is unfolding in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, where their starting quarterback, Brock Purdy, is earning the league minimum. Typically, the quarterback is the most expensive player, but having a cost-effective option can free up salary-cap space to strengthen the rest of the roster, which has made the 49ers a Super Bowl favorite.
It is in the Toronto Maple Leafs best interest to maximize Woll’s playing time and assess his potential in his first full NHL season. Based on his promising performance in a limited sample, he’s already deserving of consideration for the starting goalie position, and given Samsonov’s early struggles, Woll might take the reins sooner than anticipated.