The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to pursue Winnipeg Jets goalie Laurent Brossoit in free agency to form a tandem with Joseph Woll.
Brossoit, who finished his one-year $1.75 million deal as the Jets’ backup to Connor Hellebuyck, is considered a top choice by insider James Mirtle to sign with the Leafs.
Mirtle believes the Leafs will opt for a tandem goalie rather than a high-profile goalie, making Brossoit a likely target for the team.
Laurent Brossoit, a 31-year-old goalie, had a strong season with the Winnipeg Jets, posting a 15-5-2 record, 2.00 goals-against average, and .927 save percentage. He previously won the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are considering Brossoit as a potential signing to form a tandem with Joseph Woll, who is already under contract. The Leafs also have pending free agents Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones, making Brossoit a viable option to bolster their goaltending depth.
Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving has concerns about Joseph Woll’s frequent injuries, citing the goalie’s injury history as the “biggest question” heading into the offseason. Woll suffered a back sprain in Game 6 against the Bruins, forcing him to miss Game 7. Treliving emphasized the need to investigate whether training or off-ice routine issues are contributing to Woll’s injuries.
Maple Leafs goalie Joseph Woll has struggled with injuries, including a back sprain in Game 6. General Manager Brad Treliving emphasizes that keeping Woll healthy is the biggest question for the goalie position this summer.
Treliving wants to investigate whether Woll’s injuries are due to training or off-ice routine issues. Woll has one year left on his contract, which pays him $766,667 for the 2024-25 season.
In the regular season, Woll went 12-11-1 with a 2.94 GAA and .907 SV%, and 2-0 with a 0.86 GAA and .964 SV% in the playoffs before getting hurt.
Samsonov Likely Won’t Be Back With The Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are likely to part ways with goaltender Ilya Samsonov this offseason. Samsonov, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent, has struggled to find consistency in his play, making it unlikely that he will return to the Leafs next season.
Samsonov’s Inconsistent Play
Samsonov had an up-and-down regular season with the Leafs, finishing 23-7-8 despite a 3.13 goals-against average and .890 save percentage. His inconsistent play continued in the playoffs, where he won just one of his five appearances and allowed 14 goals on 134 shots in the first-round series against the Boston Bruins.
Woll Takes Over as Starting Goalie
The emergence of Joseph Woll as a viable option in net has further solidified the Leafs’ decision to move on from Samsonov. Woll took over as the starting goalie late in the regular season and into the playoffs, giving the team a more reliable option in net.
Samsonov’s Role Diminished
Samsonov’s role diminished significantly towards the end of the season, with Woll taking over as the starter. The Leafs’ decision to start Woll in Game 7 against the Bruins, with Samsonov serving as the backup, further suggests that the team may be ready to move on from the Russian netminder.
Conclusion
The Toronto Maple Leafs are likely to part ways with Ilya Samsonov this offseason due to his inconsistent play and the emergence of Joseph Woll as a viable option in net.
Ilya Samsonov’s tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs appears to be coming to an end. With the team expected to pursue Laurent Brossoit in free agency, Samsonov’s chances of returning to the Leafs are slim.
Samsonov spent two seasons with the team but struggled to maintain his starting role, losing it to Joseph Woll in both years. As a pending free agent, General Manager Brad Treliving hinted that Samsonov’s departure is likely, making way for new options in net.
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