Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Quick Hits: Vejmelka, Samsonov & Robertson

As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare to face the Arizona Coyotes tonight, what quick news is emerging from the team? Will Nick Robertson play?

by
Old Prof
October 16, 2022

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going for their third straight win tonight. At the same time, the visiting Arizona Coyotes are seeking their first of the season. In this edition of Maple Leafs’ Quick Hits, I’ll review some of the news surrounding the team as it heads into the game tonight.

Quick Hit One: Maple Leafs’ Will Face a Goalie Who Had Their Number

The Maple Leafs play the Arizona Coyotes on Monday night. The team will likely face goalie Karel Vejmelka. Vejmelka last played against the Boston Bruins on Saturday and faced 42 shots, giving up five goals.

Two days before, Vejmelka gave up three goals to the Pittsburgh Penguins on their first seven shots. He then settled down and stopped 43 of the last 46 shots he faced. No wins yet on the season.

Karel Vejmelka, Coyotes goalie (Upper Deck Canvas RC)

That said, Maple Leafs’ fans should recall Vejmelka’s name. Last January 12, a red-hot Maple Leafs’ team headed into Arizona on a hot streak to play the Coyotes. That night the Czech goalie stood on his head to shut down the Maple Leafs by stopping 45 of 46 shots he faced. The Coyotes came out the winner in that surprise victory.

Certainly, almost everyone expects the Maple Leafs to come out victorious tonight. The Coyotes, who will play their third game of a season-starting six-game road trip, haven’t won yet this season. So, look out tonight. The team in front of him doesn’t give Vejmelka a lot of support, but he can steal one.

Quick Hit Two: Samsonov Is Beginning to Show His Confidence

Although Ilya Samsonov let in two quick goals in his first start of the season in the Maple Leafs’ home opener against the Washington Capitals, he then shut the door to give his team a chance to come back and score a 3-2 win over Alex Ovechkin and crew.

Then, in Saturday’s game against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, Samsonov jumped in for an injured Matt Murray and played well, making 27 saves in another 3-2 win. He’ll get a good look now that Murray’s off for up to four weeks healing an injury. Maple Leafs’ fans will soon know what they have in the young Russian.

Big hug for Samsonov who gets another win pic.twitter.com/Pg3RKZsGgN
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 16, 2022

Erik Kallgren made his Maple Leafs debut last season. In 14 games with the Blue and White, Kallgren put together an 8-4-1 record with a 3.31 goals-against-average and a .888 save percentage. He was hurt in a Toronto Marlies’ loss to the Rochester Americans but has been cleared for action since that injury.

Quick Hit Three: Nick Robertson Called Up for Monday’s Game

Nick Robertson probably deserved to stay on the Maple Leafs’ roster but lost a bout with waiver exemption. He was called up on Sunday from the AHL Marlies. Whether he plays on Monday or not, who knows?

During the preseason, Robertson put together a standout training camp. For a time, he led all NHL players in preseason points but moved down to the AHL because of salary-cap constraints and not much roster flexibility for the team.

Although no right-thinking Maple Leafs’ fan would want to see Matt Murray injured, the Maple Leafs did gain some salary-cap room with Murray put on the LTIR when it was learned he would be out for at least four weeks with an adductor injury.

How will Robertson do with this NHL shot? During his two AHL games before being called up yesterday, he scored a goal and added an assist for the Marlies. He’ll likely get a chance to show his value to the team on this call-up. Good luck to him. I’m rooting for him.