Left Ovechkin and shone. Russian goalkeeper transformed into “Toronto” – Hockey News
Ilya Samsonov relaunches the Maple Leafs.
It is difficult to discover that Ilya Samsonov, from which Washington summer came, will slow down the season at the new club with such inspiration. The Capitals were finally disappointed in the goaltender, who was drafted 22nd overall. The Russian did not get bored for a long time without work. The unstable goalkeeper was noticed by Toronto managers. Samsonov played the first matches for the Maple Leafs, as in the best years, for his native Metallurg and at tournaments of youth teams. Ilya won four victories in a row and broke into the league’s top goalkeepers. Now he works on statistics Igor Shesterkin, Andrei Vasilevsky, Sergei Bobrovsky and Ilya Sorokin.
The move to Toronto welcomes new challenges for the goaltender. Another failure would have collapsed the demand for Ilya in the NHL. Replacing a case in a club that year after year does not deserve the expectation and is relegated in the first round of the playoffs is a task of increased complexity. Maple Leafs fans will devour any undeserved expectation of a hockey player. The pressure can break the goalkeeper and remove him from the squad. No matter how thick-skinned a goaltender is, hockey-loving Toronto is the place to be. Fortunately for Samsonova, in the first match, the goalkeeper made the fans fall in love with him and expanded with responsibility.
Fans already idolize the Magnitogorsk pupil. Ilya is the third goaltender in Maple Leafs history to win each of four games at the start of the season. Samsonov played only in the last game with Vegas (1:3). 30 Russian saves did not save Toronto from distribution. The records of Damian Rhodes (season 1990/91) and Frank McCool (1944/45), who took six victories in a row, are unsurpassed.
Samsonov’s one-year contract with Toronto hinted at the “all or nothing” principle. In four seasons with the Capitals, the goaltender didn’t take over as a starter. Ilya riots are not only gaming reasons. Participation of Russian partners affects. Stories with quarantine and being late for training confirm this. In Toronto, Ilya left to himself. A new club, a new dressing room, new challenges – you rely only on yourself and do not notice external factors.
![Statistics of Ilya Samsonov in the season 2022/23. Statistics of Ilya Samsonov in the season 2022/23.](https://ss.sport-express.ru/userfiles/materials/182/1829791/volga.jpg)
Statistics of Ilya Samsonov in the season 2022/23.
Samsonov is not deprived of talent and goalkeeper texture. This is a large, but mobile goalkeeper. With a height of 191 cm, Ilya remains mobile, his presence changes quickly and he reads the game competently. The problems that the goalkeeper put up with expectation in Washington are more likely to bring with them psychology and dislike for games. Samsonov can play one match at the level of a contender for Vezina, and a day later and miss one or two optional goals. Lack of sustainability hindered progress. Ilya stagnated in the Capitals, and the change of the club was seen as the best choice for the hearth. Having lost faith in the goalkeeper, “Washington” has assembled a new goalie team, and Samsonov is rebooting in “Toronto”.
Three of the four Maple Leafs games with Samson’s Gate are in one puck. The minimum difference in the contribution of the goalkeeper. Ilya will face nervous forecasts and did not concede in overtime with Dallas, when one mistake could cross out all past efforts. Samsonov outright won the competition from Matt Murray before the Canadian was injured in training. Due to the damaging adductor muscle, the goalkeeper releases at least four weeks. Ilya would not lose the victorious aura, because behind him is the unshooted understudy Eric Chellgren, who played only 15 games in the NHL.
![Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov. Photos USA Today Sports Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov. Photos USA Today Sports](https://ss.sport-express.ru/userfiles/materials/182/1829797/volga.jpg)
Matt Murray (right) and Ilya Samsonov. Photos USA Today Sports
Photos USA Today Sports
Murray’s injury made life difficult for Samsonov. After a successful start, Ilya raised the bar of expectations. She needs to meet in the future in order to maintain the reputation of a goalkeeper-savior. Four wins in five matches is a solid result. However, critics believe that this is a coincidence, not an estimate. Samson would have skin with a tough stretch without Murray until the Canadian recovers. In such cases, it can be argued that the Magnitogorsk player found his team and rebooted after leaving Washington.