Sheldon Keefe Throws Ilya Samsonov Under the Bus After Humiliating Performance: Waivers Becoming Likely Solution
To say Ilya Samsonov has been brutal this season would be an understatement. The Maple Leafs gave the netminder the last two games off around the Christmas break in hoping that would give Samsonov a reset on his play this season.
Friday nights game may have solidified what the Leafs have to do
Granted Toronto has not been great defensively this season, but the team should be getting better than the 0.862 save percentage Samsonov currently holds on the season after a brutal 6-5 overtime loss Friday. His start has been so terrible he has set or tied a record
Ilya Samsonov's .862 Save Percentage is the lowest by a Leafs goaltender through the first 15 starts of a season since Allan Bester in 1989-90.
It's the lowest by any NHL goalie through 15 starts since Dan Cloutier (.862) in 2006-07.
It's the lowest by any NHL goalie through 15 starts since Dan Cloutier (.862) in 2006-07.
It is so bad that he has the worst save percentage of any goalie with at least 10 games played
In the 6-5 loss the Leafs kept pulling ahead by a goal but it appeared that any chance Columbus got it was in the net. In the game Samsonov let in six goals on 21 shots. The ironic part of the game though is that Samsonov had no chance on the overtime winner.
In his last two games, Samsonov has given up nine goals on 30 shots.
Samsonov is getting called out everywhere, even by the coach
Sheldon Keefe was not happy after the game saying
"Mistakes get magnified when you don't get saves."
Keefe even indicated he hopes GM Brad Treliving looks at all avenues
"I'm sure [Brad Treliving] is going to consider everything."
The Athletic writer Jonas Siegel is even calling for the Leafs to move on from Samsonov.
One thing is for sure, it cannot get any worse for Samsonov in Toronto. There are often instances where going through the arbitration process can hurt a goalies confidence, this may be one of those instances. Of perhaps he has never fully healed from his injuries this season. Here is hoping he can turn his game around instead of never being able to play again.
| POLL | ||
DÉCEMBRE 30 | 452 ANSWERS Sheldon Keefe Throws Ilya Samsonov Under the Bus After Humiliating Performance: Waivers Becoming Likely Solution Will Ilya Samsonov be able to turn his game around before the season ends? | ||
| Yes | 80 | 17.7 % |
| No | 372 | 82.3 % |
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