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Fans irate with the Leafs over latest announcement

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Ryan Smitheram
December 31, 2023 (10:48)

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Many were shocked when Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe threw Ilya Samsonov under the bus following another poor performance Friday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Keefe was visibly agitated and finished up his comments about Samsonov by essentially pleading with GM Brad Treliving to get him a new goalie. For once, it seemed like all of Leafs Nation supported their head coach and agreed that Samsonov could no longer be an option in net.

Unfortunately for Keefe and Leaf fans, Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday night that the Leafs are unlikely to trade for a goalie.

"Other teams don't think the Leafs have a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for (a goalie acquisition). They believe what Toronto would like to do is hold on until Woll can get back and be healthy. There is a couple of mitigating factors here. Number one, they don't have a lot that they want to trade; they don't have a ton in terms of draft picks and prospects. And also, they don't really have a situation here where they feel there's a lot that makes them better. Now, that can always change and we'll see where this goes here."

It's well known that the Leafs don't have and haven't had many assets to trade in recent years, but Friedman did not mention another factor in why the Leafs likely won't trade for a goalie. That other reason is how Keefe's comments following the loss to Columbus have backed Treliving into a corner. Teams now know the Leafs are desperate and would ask for a much higher return from them for a goalie.

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Friedman also noted that with the Leafs heading to California and beginning their California road trip with a back-to-back, they may consider calling up Dennis Hildeby for a game. Hildeby was a fourth round pick of the Leafs in the 2022 draft and has been lights out with the Marlies in his first season in North America. Fans are skeptical of that option even though he had been playing professionally in Sweden before joining the Marlies. Why you ask? Because many believe that giving him a spot start would not be good for his development, particularly due to the Leafs' current defensive issues.

The Leafs have today and tomorrow off before taking on the Los Angeles Kings to begin their California road trip, so it will be interesting to see what decision or decisions they make leading up to their arrival on the West Coast in a couple of days.

Previously on MapleLeafsDaily

One Leafs star may be in the press box next game, if Keefe's comments ring true

Nick Robertson delivers punishing hit on Canes star, doing what he can to stay in the lineup

If the Leafs want to move on from Sheldon Keefe, there's a pretty solid replacement available

POLL
31 DECEMBRE \| 1181 ANSWERS Fans irate with the Leafs over latest announcement Should the Leafs give rookie Dennis Hildeby a start or two this coming week?
Yes, anything is better than Samsonov	1047	88.7 %
No, it wouldn't be good for his development	134	11.3 %
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