Six Ex-Maple Leafs Placed on Waivers, Including Samsonov
Six players with past Toronto ties were placed on waivers: Ilya Samsonov, Ilya Lyubushkin, Sam Lafferty, Colin Blackwell, Sammy Blais, and Henry Thrun. The article notes Samsonov stands out given his earlier success with the Maple Leafs before his career took a downturn. It also reviews the different Toronto tenures of Lyubushkin, Lafferty, and the others.
Ilya Samsonov had two seasons in Toronto, posting 50-17-13 across 82 games. His first year was strong: 27-10-5, .919 save percentage, 2.33 GAA. The next season was less steady, and he later joined Vegas. At 29, after a KHL season, he signed a two-way San Jose deal and immediately hit waivers.
Ilya Lyubushkin returned to Toronto at the 2024 deadline, playing 19 regular-season and seven playoff games before signing with Dallas; Nashville later acquired him. Sam Lafferty played 19 games for Toronto in 2022-23, then was traded to Vancouver. Colin Blackwell, Sammy Blais, and Henry Thrun also had brief Toronto stays.
This waiver news may mostly affect devoted hockey fans and the players involved. Supporters of Toronto could feel nostalgia or concern seeing familiar names available, while the athletes and their families face uncertainty about relocation and roles. For NHL teams, these moves could create low-cost depth options or AHL assignments. The broader public impact is likely limited, since roster turnover is routine in professional sports.