Boston Bruins’ goaltender Linus Ullmark let hockey fans know what he really thought of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltending.
In an interview on Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and former NHL goaltender Carton Hutton, Ullmark discussed how he spends his offseason, his relationship with fellow Bruins’ netminder Jeremy Swayman and what could be in store this offseason in terms of a potential trade.
Hutton asked Ullmark about Joseph Woll and what his thoughts were on the budding Maple Leafs’ netminder, and the Bruins’ goalie gave his honest thoughts on how Toronto handled the crease between Woll and Samsonov.
“I was surprised that they kept Samsonov for that many games against us in the playoffs, because every time we played the Leafs, and (Woll) was in net, it felt more like a challenge,” Ullmark said. “Even thought I’m not a player, but just watching him, it looked so much more like (Woll) was in so much more control of the situations that was thrown at him.”
Ullmark, who went 22-10-7 in 40 games last season, went on to compliment Woll’s game and admitted his own curiosity of what the Maple Leafs do with him in 2024-25.
“He’s just like every young goaltender nowadays, he’s just so technically sound,” Ullmark said. “I think the only thing that might stop him might be the mental game. We all know that that doesn’t just happen overnight; it all comes down to experience. But the guy has come a long way in a short amount of time. I think he looks terrific.
“It’s going to be interesting to see the Leafs do this summer, and I have the same questions,” Ullmark continued. “Are they going to keep him and bring in someone else? Or are they hold him to 25 or 30 games and take it slow? It’s going to be interesting to say the least.”
In an injury littered with injuries, Samsonov went 12-11-1 with a .907 SV% and 2.94 GAA in 25 appearances, and in three playoff games, went 2-0 with a .964 SV%, but injuries kept him out of the deciding Game 7.
