Hello up there, Hildebeast.
Not that the Maple Leafs have had much luck investing their Swedish goaltenders with nicknames. Recall that Brian Burke hung The Monster on Jonas Gustavsson. He played 107 games for pc28¹ÙÍøover three seasons and another 72 as a backup journeyman elsewhere before disappearing from the NHL.
At six-foot-seven, Dennis (Hildebeast) Hildeby would be difficult to disappear anywhere. Gently bemused by the moniker — “I don’t really mind, it works for me’’ — the newest in-house addition to the team certainly loomed large in the net at practice Monday. Even more so still standing on skates and surrounded by a runty pack of reporters for a dressing room scrum afterward.
Hildeby’s appearance preceded, by a few hours, Ilya Samsonov clearing waivers at 2 p.m., which means the Russian who the Swede replaced can now report to the Marlies, although it’s unclear when exactly that will happen. There was no Samsonov sighting at the Ford Performance Centre as the Leafs prepared to embark on a California sojourn, only his rather forlorn-looking goalie pads turned inside out at his stall.
It’s not technically Hildeby’s first thrust into Leafs orbit. He was here for training camp and served as an emergency backup for a couple of playoff games last spring when Samsonov was injured, though he didn’t dress. But suddenly the 22-year-old — who’d been enjoying a rather impressive debut season with the Marlies, first year playing on North American ice — is right in the thick of it.
With Samsonov struggling mightily, all out of sorts between the pipes and between the ears, general manager Brad Treliving made the come-hither call on Sunday. “Obviously a very proud moment,’’ Hildeby said of receiving the summons, far earlier that anyone had anticipated before his predecessor tumbled out of his No. 1 goaltending role, then right off the roster. “I was very excited. It felt like I had done something good to get this call-up.’’
A 7-5-3 record and .919 save percentage, among the top stats in the AHL, albeit Hildeby lost his last three starts. So let’s not put too much saviour-like pressure on a young man who’ll be bringing up the rear to Martin Jones until Joseph Woll returns from his high ankle sprain. He might get a start on this road trip, but coach Sheldon Keefe indicated he’d be comfortable using Jones back-to-back against the Kings and Ducks. Maybe in San Jose thereafter, too.
But at the lively practice — music thumping way too loud for the morning after New Year’s Eve, ouch — Hildeby made his humongous presence felt and seen. Got an introductory taste of a wicked Auston Matthews shot, too, whipped at him. “The plan is just to take each day as it comes and try to get him up to speed at the NHL level,’’ said Keefe. “Obviously NHL shooters and such, it’s a different animal. Which he may have learned when Auston came down and blew one by him there in one of the first drills.’’
Didn’t take long for Hildeby to settle in, however. “You can really see he was getting comfortable in his reads, and obviously the size,’’ the coach noted. “A lot of pucks just hit him because of the size. Obviously the size stands out when you first meet him on the ice. The other part is, he has a great demeanour, great attitude, eager to work and learn. We need a guy who is that guy.’’
From William Nylander, amidst a flurry of Swedish chatter: “He covers a lot of net. Obviously he’s Swedish, so he’s a great goalie.’’
Yes, well, Sweden does crank out a disproportionate number of talented NHL netminders.
Hildeby emerged from his first practice chuffed by the whole thing. “A little more physically harder because everything is a bit quicker. The pace is quicker, more accurate. It’s going to take a few practices to adapt. It was a tough practice, but it was really fun.’’
There is an advantage, the shaggy-haired Hildeby agreed, in his humongous proportions, which doesn’t seem to limit his mobility. Shooters, he said, have to come at him from different angles, which impacts pace and space as he’s adjusted to a smaller ice surface than he knew in the Swedish league. “It’s a lot of pucks thrown at the net.’’ He’s able to see over opponents clogging his crease and can track shots more easily. “I never have anyone in front of me who is the same size.’’
His main takeaway from advice provided Monday by goalie coach Curtis Sanford: “Just don’t think too much. Like, just breathe, keep calm, stay present and compete for the puck.’’
Hildeby didn’t look overwhelmed or out of his groove, presented with a challenge that arrived precipitously. “Basically, I’m going to go in there and take advantage of this opportunity and do everything I’ve been doing so far this season, because that’s obviously worked. And it’s important not to overthink stuff, just take it day by day. Not do anything too different from what I’ve been doing. That’s the plan.’’
Speaking of … what’s the plan for poor, jangled Samsonov, whose self-confidence has been shattered? No team bit at the waiver dangle, which is understandable given his disastrous stats and $3.55-million (U.S.) cap hit. Keefe, who’d been immensely patient with the goalie who finally got them past a first playoff round, clearly could no longer send him out there. As the deadline ticked down, the coach was hopeful Samsonov would clear waivers and not be lost to a club which now has its No. 3 from training camp as No. 1, and No. 5 from camp as No. 2.
“It’s honestly a continuation of what’s been happening here,’’ said Keefe of immediate next steps, of working on positional issues and easing Samsonov’s rattled state of mind. “It’s basically removing him from the situation to just focus solely on himself and his game, then you take it from there. From my perspective he’s a good goalie, he’s played a lot of good hockey for us. We need to do all that we can to try to get him back to that.’’
Captain John Tavares had checked in with Samsonov: “He was pretty positive. It can’t be an easy situation. I know how competitive he is and how badly he wants to be a difference-maker. We feel for him. As a team, you feel disappointed in the group at times, just wanting to do a better than we have playing well in front of him. We’ve been up and down defensively. We feel that as well. Hope it all works and he comes back stronger than ever.’’
Speaking of … the same is expected of David Kämpf following his kick to the ego, a healthy scratch by Keefe in Saturday’s loss to Carolina for key misplays in the previous game.
“I came to the game and I got this message from Sheldon that I was out. I was surprised, but it is what it is. I’m going to be ready for the next game.’’
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