Maple Leafs recall Ilya Samsonov, loan Dennis Hildeby to Marlies

The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled goaltender Ilya Samsonov from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, the team announced on Wednesday. The team also announced that goaltender Dennis Hildeby has been loaned to the Marlies.

Samsonov, 26, has a record of 5-2-6 for the Maple Leafs, along with a 3.94 GAA and .862 SV%. Earlier in the season, he lost the starter job in Toronto to Joseph Woll, who looked good until suffering an ankle injury. The Woll injury, as devastating as it could have been for the team, also provided Samsonov with an opportunity to regain the starters’ crease.

That didn’t happen, as he was surpassed by veteran Martin Jones. Jones has proved to be a good stop-gap until Woll comes back and the best option to be the backup goalie for the rest of the season.

Samsonov did not play with the Marlies while he was in the AHL.

In five NHL seasons, Samsonov an 84-34-19 record with a .903 SV% and a 2.77 GAA in 146 appearances. He joined the Maple Leafs as a free agent before the 2022-23 regular season. What started as a battle for the crease with Matt Murray became Samsonov’s job to lose, finishing with a 27-10-5 record and a .919 SV%, helping Toronto win their first playoff series since 2004.

The Maple Leafs travel to Long Island on Thursday to face the New York Islanders, and there’s a chance Samsonov starts. Jones has started in five consecutive games, but has looked fantastic through them, going 4-1-0 with a .962 SV%.

Toronto will wrap up the week with back-to-back home games over the weekend, starting with the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday and the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.