On this version of Toronto Maple Leafs Information & Rumors, I am going to check out goaltender Ilya Samsonov’s officiating and share how effectively he performed for the Maple Leafs final season.
Second, I am going to evaluate John Tavares’ time with the crew and say that the Maple Leafs captain is nearing 1,000 factors this season. He now sits with 975 profession factors. I may also share a latest story that reveals how he prioritizes integrity over particular person achievement.
Third, I am going to have a look at the milestones Auston Matthews are more likely to attain this season. He’s approaching the 600 level plateau.
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Lastly, I will share one thing I hadn’t considered however got here throughout throughout my latest analysis. That is the bond between defenseman Erik Karlsson and new Pittsburgh Penguins assistant common supervisor (GM) Jason Spezza since enjoying with the Ottawa Senators. This connection sparked rumors that Karlsson might land with the Penguins.
First level: At the moment, Samsonov’s choice is meant to fall
Samsonov’s arbitration choice is meant to fall this weekend. As Maple Leafs followers know, the group listed its determine at $2.4 million, whereas its agent countered with $4.9 million. The arbitrator can select any quantity inside this vary. Nonetheless, it’s anticipated that Samsonov’s contract will in all probability be between $3.75 and $4 million for one yr.
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The factor about Samsonov is that he is been surprisingly good for the Maple Leafs. Actually, I bear in mind throughout the playoffs that Hockey Evening in Canada analyst Elliotte Friedman famous that he spoke with folks within the Washington Capitals group who advised him that Samsonov had by no means performed higher with them than in Toronto.
Final season, Samsonov was spectacular. He and Matt Murray had been acquired by former common supervisor Kyle Dubas within the earlier offseason. Murray’s season was marked by ups and downs, marred by accidents, and general it was a tragic story of a former nice goalkeeper unable to remain within the recreation. Looking back, the Maple Leafs had been fortunate to have Samsonov on the proper time.
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Total, the younger Russian keeper posted an distinctive document of 27-10-5, with a stable goals-against-average (GAA) of two.33 and a powerful save proportion (SV%) of 0.919. Will probably be fascinating to see how the connection between the 2 entities – Samsonov and the Maple Leafs group – survives the arbitration listening to. I hear this may be deflating for the gamers concerned.
If Samsonov continues to play effectively for the Maple Leafs, he is heading in the direction of a profession milestone. At the moment, he has 79 profession wins; and, with simply 21 extra, he’ll attain the 100 win mark. He had 27 wins final season, so he seems to be like a lock – except there is a main setback in his recreation or he will get injured.
Second level: John Tavares strikes up the NHL factors listing
This will likely be Tavares’ sixth season with the Maple Leafs. Whereas followers assume he is overpaid — and perhaps they’re proper — he is been a constant points-per-game participant in his first 5 seasons with the crew. Whereas he could be a bit of quiet as a captain on this market, he actually is among the good guys in my books. Toronto is a demanding atmosphere to play.
A couple of week in the past, hockey information carried the story of Tavares’ honesty. Plainly within the 2014-15 NHL season he was up for the Artwork Ross Trophy, which is the award given to the NHL participant who leads the league in factors on the finish of the common season. Though he was just one level away from profitable the award, Tavares requested the crew’s vice chairman of communications, Kimber Auerbach, to test the video footage to see if he deserved any assists on two targets.
(Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
When it was confirmed that he shouldn’t have obtained the factors, he requested that they be faraway from his whole. Tavares had prioritized integrity over his personal particular person accolades. That is the sort of character he reveals as a pacesetter on and off the ice.
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On the finish of final season, after a powerful 80 factors in 80 video games, Tavares had amassed 975 profession factors. He ought to have the ability to cross the 1000 level mark within the 2023-24 season. That might give him 354 factors in 360 video games with the Maple Leafs and rank him twenty sixth in franchise scoring.
Third level: a nasty season for Auston Matthews is at all times good
In the course of the 2022-23 season, Matthews skilled what was thought of a slack season. Nonetheless, he managed to attain 40 targets and add 45 assists (for 85 factors) in 74 video games. Clearly, that looks as if a drop from his stellar 60-goal season in 2021-22. Nonetheless, his productiveness was exceptional. And all of it occurred whereas he was enjoying in opposition to a wrist damage throughout the season.
On the finish of final season, Matthews had amassed 542 profession factors. In doing so, he handed Maple Leafs greats akin to Tim Horton, Lanny MacDonald, Tomas Kaberle and Rick Vaive on the franchise’s all-time factors listing. He now sits eleventh in franchise scoring, simply 12 factors shy of teammate Mitch Marner’s 554 factors.
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He’s additionally tied with Vaive for fifth in franchise historical past with 299 targets. Matthews’ first purpose of the 2023-24 season would be the three hundredth purpose of his profession. If he can rating a minimum of 34 targets this season (which matches his lowest variety of seasons reached in 2017-18), he’ll overtake Vaive on the all-time goalscoring listing and transfer as much as fourth place. Furthermore, he solely wants 58 factors to cross the 600-point milestone on the season.
What’s subsequent for the Maple Leafs?
Curiously, and I admit I have not considered it, evidently among the many groups Karlsson is speaking to are the Penguins. The connection between him and former Maple Leafs participant and assistant common supervisor Jason Spezza appears to have greased the wheel.
I had forgotten that Spezza and Karlsson had been teammates with the Senators for a number of seasons between 2009 and 2013. If he landed with the Penguins, Karlsson would give the crew an offensive jolt.
Phrase is he is spoken with the Maple Leafs, however common supervisor Brad Treliving speaks with everybody. A commerce to the Maple Leafs appears unlikely except somebody like William Nylander does the alternative.
