Leafs tender qualifying offers to 3 players, but have not qualified 3 more prospects, who will become UFAs tomorrow
The Toronto Maple Leafs have followed suit with the rest of the NHL in announcing the players they have extended qualifying offers to and, conversely, the players who failed to receive one. The players who did not receive a qualifying offer will become UFAs tomorrow.
Ilya Samsonov, Nick Abruzzese, and Semyon Der-Arguchinstev were extended qualifying offers by the Leafs, whereas Mac Hollowell, Filip Kral, and Victor Mete did not.
It had originally seemed like it was a foregone conclusion that the Maple Leafs were going to buy out goaltender, Matt Murray, and run with a tandem that included Samsonov and Joseph Woll. As we approach the opening of free agency tomorrow, it seems that all 3 goalies will be around to start next season.
The 26-year-old goaltender went 27-10-5 with a .919 SV% and a 2.33 G.A.A. in his first regular season with Toronto. He then went 4-4 in the playoffs with a 3.13 G.A.A and .898 SV% before making way for Woll in the final 2 games due to injury.
Der-Arguchintsev has been progressing very well for the Toronto Marlies after being drafted in the third round in 2018. He joined the Marlies in 2020-21 where he added 4 assists in 6 games before scoring 13 goals and 32 points in 51 games the following season. He improved to the tune of 40 points in 50 games this season and even made his NHL debut.
Abruzzese had a very strong rookie season with the Marlies in 2022-23 with 16 goals and 48 points in 69 games. He added 7 points in 7 post-season games and even chipped in with 2 assists in 2 NHL games. He excelled at Harvard University with 23 goals and 77 points in 59 games across 2 seasons before joining the Leafs at the end of the 2021-22 for 9 games, where he scored his first career NHL goal.
As for the rest, Kral scored 6 points in 24 games in the AHL with 0 points in 2 games at the NHL-level, Hollowell actually had a decent season with 13 assists in 18 regular season games and another 5 assists in the post-season, while Mete went pointless in 6 games for the Marlies and had 2 assists in 11 games for the Leafs.
