Ilya Samsonov avoids serious injury at Maple Leafs practice, John Klingberg on the mend
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Published Oct 06, 2023 • 4 minute read
Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov stands during training camp. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun
The Maple Leafs were giving thanks this long weekend that their injury situation wasn’t worsened by losing Ilya Samsonov.
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Seeing the No. 1 goalie hunched over at the bench in pain on Friday and making a quick exit from practice was not what Sheldon Keefe wanted five days from the season opener versus Montreal, but the coach eventually had good news on his condition and a few other walking wounded.
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Samsonov was taking routine shots at the team’s practice facility — not likely to play in Saturday’s final pre-season match in Detroit, anyway — when a Calle Jarnkrok snapper caught him in what appeared to be a softly padded spot in the arm/shoulder/collarbone area.
Trainers examined him, before he shed his glove and blocker, and departed, though notably by himself and without the need of medical personnel.
“He’s fine,” Keefe said, confirmed later through captain John Tavares from dressing room chatter.
“You don’t want to see anyone hurt in practice and it’s obvious the importance of Ilya, the role he plays on our team and the type of netminder he is,” Tavares said. “It’s good to see he’s all right. In a physical, fast sport, things happen, even in practice. It didn’t seem like it felt too good and hearing the guys talking, he’s OK.”
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Samsonov played the entirety of Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win over the Red Wings at Scotiabank Arena, not his busiest pre-season outing with just 23 shots, but despite an off night, he’s in line to make his first season-opening start as a Leaf.
Joseph Woll will start in Detroit, leaving Martin Jones unsure of his future if he’s exposed on waivers next week as Woll would be grabbed by another team for certain.
New defenceman John Klingberg wanted to play the Detroit game after being out since leaving the Sept. 27 exhibition in St. Thomas, Ont., against Buffalo. His upper-body bruising from a game against Ottawa is nearly healed, but the medical staff advised him to rest and Keefe said he should be 100% for the Canadiens game.
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Winger Dylan Gambrell worked out briefly on Friday as he recovers from a concussion.
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Based on the pairings at Friday’s practice Klingberg will be with Jake McCabe next week, as was the case early in camp. If Mark Giordano stays with Timothy Liljegren, that would leave Simon Benoit and Mikko Kokkonen as depth D. Both are in the Saturday lineup.
Bringing in Benoit from Anaheim in the summer to add some physicality to a blueline that lost Luke Schenn and Justin Holl was necessary, but Benoit took three penalties on Thursday — at least one a questionable call — not a great look to be providing the staff.
“It’s tough, you want to be physical and make an impression that way, but you can’t take penalties,” Keefe said. “I talked to him today, he acknowledged it’s not common for him to get caught up in something like that.”
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An early season camp injury put Benoit behind in getting to know new teammates and Toronto’s system, but Keefe is still high on him and discovering what else he can offer.
MOTOWN FLAVOUR?
As for the rest of the lineup in Detroit, which Keefe already hinted would be watered down to avoid any more risks to the starters, he has the option of two Michigan-born players: Forward Max Ellis and defenceman Tommy Miller. Keefe insisted regional sentiment wasn’t factoring in his decision, but Miller is from the Motown suburb of West Bloomfield.
“That would be cool if I did play, being a Detroit fan growing up watching Nicklas Lidstrom,” he said.
He came from Michigan State to split last year with the Newfoundland Growlers and the AHL Marlies.
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“I’m getting a little sick and tired of going against teammates and getting cross-checked, but it’s good they use a three-tier system here, you go down, play a lot of minutes, get a lot of touches, learn the pro schedule, gathering information.”
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KID STUFF
Forward Fraser Minten — who might still make the team — and Easton Cowan remain the two juniors at camp.
Cowan, a year younger at 18, was kept home from the team’s two-day retreat in Gravenhurst, but the first-round pick from the London Knights said he put the time to good use.
“I’ve been chilling. saw my parents, saw the Knights play. It would’ve been fun to be in Gravenhurst, but there’s always next year and I want to be there.”
The Knights have five of a possible six points without him.
LOOSE LEAFS
Toronto has four pre-season wins so far and three losses, two of those in overtime … Cowan on hanging around with elderly Leafs, such as the 40-year-old Giordano: “It’s so cool. We’re eating breakfast, they’re talking to their kids and I’m just out of high school” … Many Leafs, mostly defencemen, went down the hall after Thursday’s game to meet with ex-teammate Justin Holl.
lhornby@postmedia.com
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