The 2023–24 season has been a rollercoaster ride for Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov. The 27-year-old entered on a one-year extension, thanks in large part to helping lead the group to their first playoff series win in nearly 20 years. The love the city had for him thanks to that, however, quickly diminished following a horrific start in 2023–24.
Samsonov was flat-out awful to begin the season, posting a save percentage (SV%) below.900 in 10 of his 15 starts before the new year. He left management with little option, as they had no choice but to place him on waivers on Jan. 1.
