Ilya Samsonov buries Leafs fans following his first victory with the Golden Knights
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Ilya Samsonov takes a shot at Toronto Maple Leafs fans after his first victory with his new team.
It's clear Ilya Samsonov had some unfinished business during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs & after last night's win with the Vegas Golden Knights he didn't hold back his thoughts.
As the Leafs work to solidify their goaltending, a familiar name is making headlines in a new city. Samsonov who is now playing for Vegas just won his first game with his new team beating the Anaheim Ducks 3-1. After the game, the Russian goalie expressed his excitement about being in Vegas, praising his teammates, the team's culture, and its passionate fanbase. Some of his comments seemed like subtle digs at his old team especially when he said he preferred the fan experience in Vegas over Toronto.
Unsurprisingly, Samsonov's comments stirred up a lot of reactions on social media. Leafs fans felt insulted, while Vegas fans jumped to defend their new goalie. What started as a simple post game interview quickly turned into a heated online debate with insults being thrown between the two fanbases.
Despite the online drama one thing is clear, Samsonov's career has taken a positive turn in Vegas. After an uncertain future in Toronto he seems revitalized & is playing with confidence on a team that wants him. It goes to show that sometimes a change of scenery is all it takes for a player to find their stride.
Samsonov's success in Vegas should be celebrated even by Leafs fans. Instead of taking his comments as criticism it might be time to acknowledge that both he & the Leafs are better off after the split. It's a win for everyone & both fanbases could benefit from moving on.
