The pressure is coming from all different angles as currently General Manager Kyle Dubas does not have a contract for next season and will most likely need some playoff success in order to get one and Auston Matthews will be going into the final year of his deal next season and will want to see that this organization has a chance to win before signing long term in Toronto.
If Matthews chooses to leave, that could be absolutely devastating for the Maple Leafs, and knowing the pressure Dubas was under coming into this year, he made an interesting move with his goaltending situation. After he let fan favourite Jack Campbell walk in free agency, he brought in two cast-offs from other teams due to lack of success in Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov. He was highly criticized for this move, but despite injuries, both goaltenders have played very well for the Maple Leafs this season.
Both goalies have at times ran with the starting role and played well, so it's caused a dilemma on who will be the starting goaltender come playoff time.
Luke Fox, an NHL journalist recently made a tweet pointing out an interesting fact about the two goaltenders:
Ilya Samsonov at home: 18-2-2
Matt Murray on the road: 9-6-1
Sheldon Keefe: "It's certainly something that has my attention."� luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) March 29, 2023
With Samsonov a much better goalie on home ice and Murray a much better goalie on the road, could we see the Maple Leafs switch goaltenders depending on what rink they're playing in?
According to Sheldon Keefe:
POLL | ||
Should the Leafs change goalies per rink? | ||
yes | 148 | 68.5 % |
no | 68 | 31.5 % |
List of polls |