Leafs’ Ilya Samsonov thanks all parts of his ‘family’ for turnaround

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From getting the boot from the Maple Leafs roster to garnering the belt as their game MVP, the past month has been about Ilya Samsonov bouncing back.

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The Central Division-leading Winnipeg Jets could reverse his course Wednesday night, but the mere fact that he’s starting back-to-back games for the first time in 2024 is a testament to his work on the ice — and the importance of family off of it.

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Samsonov spoke highly of both on Tuesday as the Leafs came back from a trip that saw him secure the two points in Seattle with some very impressive late saves.

The Leafs didn’t even bring him on their previous road trip to California, putting him through waivers to take time off at home, slowly rebuilding confidence, technique and his .862 save percentage.

“Stay positive is the most important thing,” said Samsonov, who stopped 36 of 40 total shots against Detroit (a close loss) and Seattle. “I just enjoy the locker room and to see the smiles.

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“I talked a lot with the goalie coach, Curtis (Sanford),  Hannu (Toivonen, the Marlies instructor). We took a couple of steps back. I’d forgot how to enjoy hockey.”

Back at the house, there was wife Maria and 10-month-old son Miroslav to lift spirits. And just before the new year, at his lowest point with four straight ugly defeats, his parents made the long journey from Russia.

“This is the biggest piece in my life, my wife and my kid,” Samsonov told the media. “You come back home, you’re not looking good, you’re sad or something and she sends a picture of Miro every day. It’s ‘heads up, man, we love you’.”

Samsonov also had a heart-to-heart with his parents, most notably his father.

“It’s really important to talk with your dad. He is older than you and been in a lot of different situations. He’s not a professional hockey player, but I still have a lot of respect for him and I listen to what he said.

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“If he has a problem in his life, he is moving forward all the time. (He says) ‘it’s easy to sit and cry or have your head down. But you have your own family now, you’re not a (young man) any more’.”

Mrs. Samsonov’s culinary skills are apparently still formidable, though Ilya joked his father ate most of her homemade meals.

“Russian food is too fatty. Really good, but not for me during the hockey season.”

Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe might also have been looking at Samsonov’s 2-1 record against the Jets with a .960 save percentage when picking him ahead of Martin Jones on Wednesday, but it’s time for the projected No. 1 goalie to truly put himself back in the picture. Joseph Woll had taken the role and Jones plugged the hole when the rookie was hurt.

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Woll continues to work out on a separate ice pad to get through a high ankle sprain that will likely keep sidelining him until after the all-star break, Feb. 1-3, where Samsonov was recently exiled.

“Since that Detroit game, his practices have been excellent,” Keefe said of Samsonov. “He was really hungry for the net last week, partly because of Jonesy’s play, partly by design. We kept him hungry by not playing him.

“We knew we’d definitely need him on the weekend (especially after Jones got lit up in Vancouver) and I was not surprised he had the kind of game he did.

“He’s very much looked like himself, the Sammy we came to know last season.”

Now it’s Jones’ turn to wonder about his next start. With the break coming after Saturday’s match in Winnipeg, the Leafs will be off until Feb. 5 when Woll could be back. Not viewed as a long-term starter, Jones, the oldest of the three stoppers on the team, went on a good roll, but losses to Edmonton and Vancouver took something out of him.

“Sammy’s played well the past couple of games and the coach will do what he thinks best,” Jones said. “It’s always nice to get into a rhythm, any goalie will tell you.”

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