The guards have not finished talking about the Leafs

As is regularly the case with the Montreal Canadiens, goaltenders are a recurring topic of discussion around the Toronto Maple Leafs and the 2022-2023 season will be no exception. rule. 

These will once again want to achieve success during the regular season, but above all to win their first playoff series since 2004. 

The numerous failures of the past have often been justified by the absence of a goalkeeper capable of pulling the chestnuts out of the fire at the crucial moment. 

However, during the summer, the Leafs said goodbye to Jack Campbell, while getting hold of Ilya Samsonov and Matt Murray. 

A few observers are already expressing their skepticism about these hires. 

However, the club's players place all their trust in their trusted men in net. In the case of Murray, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he has the opportunity to breathe new life into a career that has taken a beating.

“I I've been in the National League for a long time and I haven't had the opportunity to make long runs in the playoffs. So I want to see a guy like him at work and take advantage of his experience to learn from it, because he's been there and succeeded. Counting on a man who has won two cups and acted as a starter is a very good asset,” defender Mark Giordano told the daily “Toronto Sun”.

“Think about it. He played with a teammate who is not easy to dislodge; [Marc-André] Fleury is one of the best on the circuit and Murray probably gained a lot of experience from there. At one point he was number 1 in Pittsburgh, which is saying a lot,” he added.

Insurance Policy

In addition to Murray, who is expected to play two periods in Wednesday's preseason game against the Habs, and Samsonov, hired as a free agent, the Leafs have Erik Kallgren under their aegis. 

Having played almost fifteen games with the big club at the end of the campaign, he will be ready to take over in the event of a problem.

“With the arrival of Murray and Samsonov, he is a bit of a forgotten guy, but he's here and played well for us last year,” said head coach Sheldon Keefe. When we had some trouble and couldn't have any stability in that position, he came in and gave us the confidence to win.”

“We haven't forgotten that. . […] It will be a challenge to send him often in front of the net during the preparatory calendar, because the other two guys will take on a good workload. On the other hand, it is important to continue to work with him and Curtis Sanford [guardian instructor] so that they build their relationship. You never know what the season holds. He's moving forward and will want to do his best when the opportunity presents itself,” Keefe said.