Leafs reportedly sign Keith Petruzzelli after Ilya Samsonov injury

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly signed goaltender Keith Petruzelli.

The news comes just hours after Ilya Samsonov was forced to leave Toronto’s 2-1 victory over Boston with a knee injury after the second period on Saturday.

Petruzzelli, 23, has a perfect 5-0-0 record with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies this season. He was signed to an AHL deal, with an 8-1-0 record over two seasons. Petruzzelli stood out in the ECHL with Newfoundland last year, posting a 16-6-1 record with five shutouts in 23 regular season games. He also won the ECAC’s goaltender of the year award and finished as a Hobey Baker finalist during the 2020-21 NCAA season.

The Leafs are now at 50 contracts after losing Nicolas Aube-Kubel to Washington via waivers earlier in the afternoon. The Leafs didn’t have an update on Samsonov after Saturday’s game, but was not expected to travel with the club to Carolina on Sunday.

Matt Murray, who the team acquired from Ottawa over the summer, was injured during practice ahead of his second start of the season this year and has only just recently started participating in limited practice drills by himself. Joseph Woll, the team’s only other NHL-signed goaltender in North America, is also out after shoulder surgery over the summer.

The Leafs will now go with Petruzzelli and Erik Kallgren as the team’s 1-2 duo in the short term while awaiting an update on Samsonov. Kallgren stopped every shot sent his way during the third period after losing his three previous starts this season.

For Leafs fans, they’ll be hoping for good news regarding Samsonov. This is the first NHL contract for Petruzelli and gives the Leafs extra options once everyone returns to full health.