The Toronto Maple Leafs failed once more in the playoffs this season, and while it's hard to put it all on one player, the struggles of Ilya Samsonov certainly didn't help. After a rough start to the series against the Boston Bruins, the team pivoted to Joseph Woll in net, and it paid off big time as the team came back in a big way before ultimately falling in a dramatic Game 7.
Now, the team are set to back Joseph Woll as their starter of the future, with news all but confirmed that they will let Samsonov walk into free agency this year as he seeks a long-term deal.
This isn't a surprising move from the Maple Leafs, as Woll was stellar in his playoff appearances, but now, the team still have a spot to fill. According to reports, they were in on Jacob Markstrom until he was eventually dealt to New Jersey, while also showing interest in Linus Ullmark, showing that they may not quite be as set with Woll in net as expected.
Regardless of other decisions, the team have now moved on from Samsonov, and perhaps away from the spotlight in a new environment, the talented young goaltender can thrive.
