ELMONT, N.Y. — Ilya Samsonov was the first Maple Leaf to step foot on UBS Arena ice Thursday morning and the last to leave.
Question the beleaguered goaltender’s performance and wonder about his future with this organization, but one thing is certain: Samsonov is trying to save his season and regain his status as a legitimate NHL goaltender.
Speaking publicly for the first time since his disastrous last-straw loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 29, Samsonov described what it felt like to be waived by the team that signed him to a $3.55-million contract and expected him to be this season’s No. 1 netminder.
“Same reaction as everybody, yeah?” Samsonov said.
“You’re sad, yeah? But it’s nice signal for your brain and your body: Man, you need to wake up and get back on track, and working hard as you can.”
Samsonov spent a week away from the team environment, working out in the gym, refocusing his mind and training with Marlies goalie coach Hannu Toivonen. He was recalled by the big club to back up Martin Jones on this one-game road trip to Long Island primarily so prospect Dennis Hildeby can squeeze in some AHL game action.
Being around his teammates — albeit a situation not promised beyond Friday — has served as a morale booster for the affable 26-year-old struggling through a critical contract year.
“I was happy to see everybody in the locker room. Everything’s good,” said Samsonov, who was left at home during the Leafs’ perfect 3-0 road trip to California.
“Unbelievable. Long time, no see the guys. Seven days is a long time. We’re like a family, everybody. The locker room is like your second family.”
Samsonov is a beloved character in Leafland. He smiled and thanked the gathered media in his usual genuine way. His teammates are encouraging his efforts to rediscover a game that has sunk so far (.862 save percentage).
“He’s a funny guy. He’s a guy I enjoy being around, a lot of guys enjoy being around a lot. He’s got a good attitude on him. Little bit of a jokester at the card table and stuff like that on the plane. He’s great,” defenceman Mark Giordano said.
“Whenever you see a teammate go through a little bit of a struggle in the season, you want to help them out in any way you can. But it’s great to see him. He’s working his ass off out there in practice, and we know he’ll get back in a game. We gotta play well when he gets back in there.”
When?
If?
In a scrum limited to under three minutes with a handful of reporters in New York, Samsonov declined to go into detail about his week away from the team and did not want to say if he’d be open to starting a game down with the Marlies.
Having cleared waivers, Samsonov can yo-yo between the AHL and NHL for a total of 10 games or 30 days on the roster before needing clearance again. Hildeby could well be recalled for this weekend’s back-to-back if the Leafs choose.
Samsonov is in limbo, waiting for his next tap on the shoulder.
In the meantime, he’s working on the little details of his technical game and taking advantage of this time seeing NHL-calibre shooters in practice.
So, when does he believe he’ll be ready to play a game?
“Brain is ready. I’m seeing the puck well,” replied Samsonov, who has signaled this fresh start by giving his Leafs mask a new paint job, his second one this season.
“I feel really positive. Stay positive all the time and stick (to) working and try to do my best on the ice and in the gym, whatever it is.”
Knies relieved after ‘scary situation’ at practice
Leafs forward Matthew Knies was breathing a sigh of relief Thursday and assured that he’s “100 per cent” good to play against the Islanders.
The top-line left wing needed two teammates to help him off the ice during Wednesday’s practice after a stick caught his skate and he twisted his knee to a frightening degree.
“Scary situation. Very awkward for me,” said Knies, who has no history of knee injuries.
Pain shot through Knies’ body, and his panic over a worst-case scenario made him nauseous.
“That’s kind of (a) first, where my head went right away when I felt that pain. It’s a scary injury to have, around that area. Obviously, it takes you out for a long time. So, I was happy that it was nothing serious and could play today,” Knies said.
“Felt a little more serious than it was when I was exiting the ice, but I just had to let it settle down and ease it up and started to feel good by the end of the day.”
Whew.
“As a coach,” Sheldon Keefe said, “you don’t really have much choice but to press on, both with the practice and the lineup and whatever it might be. But when you find out that he’s OK and available, certainly is good news.”
