Arbitration Lands Maple Leafs’ Samsonov One-Year, $3,55 M

The 2023 offseason has been a roller coaster for the Toronto Maple Leafs and its new general manager Brad Treliving. Several players have left for greener pastures, new reinforcements have walked in, and the contract negotiations with their new number one netminder Ilya Samsonov have been difficult.

Arbitration was eventually required and, over the weekend, both parties settled for a one-year contract with a value of $3.55 million.

Ilya Samsonov and Maple Leafs Contract Agreement

Neither Samsonov nor the Toronto Maple Leafs agreed on much in recent days and weeks. The netminder wanted $4.9 million whereas the franchise was ready to offer $2.6. Keep in mind that Samsonov largely outplayed the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevsky in the first round of the playoffs this past spring. It was also the first time in 19 years Toronto won a playoff round. Many Maple Leafs goalies had tried before Samsonov but all failed.

The 27-year-old posted a 27-10-5 record with a 2.33 GAA in the regular season before going 4-4 with a 3.13 average in the postseason.

Toronto still has Matt Murray on the books for $4.69 million, which is another situation GM Treliving has to handle. It could be dealt with via a buyout. That’s on top of negotiations to extend Auston Matthews and William Nylander, which have also kept Brad Treliving busy this summer.

There are no two ways about it. Brad Treliving as GM is getting a baptism by fire. At least the Maple Leafs’ primary goalie tandem – Samsonov and Joseph Woll – is set for one season.