DETROIT – Smiles don’t get lost in translation.
And Ilya Samsonov, particularly coming off a win, has plenty of them to share around the Toronto Maple Leafs’ dressing room.
“He’s got lots of personality. That’s been helpful,” said coach Sheldon Keefe of the Russian’s comfort with his new club.
“The fact that he’s been focused, and then also has an easygoing, lighthearted personality that guys like to chum around with, it’s allowed him to fit in and adapt well.”
After a practice earlier this week, I approached Samsonov as he was peeling off his gear to ask one quick question. Happy to chat, a 10-minute conversation grew naturally.
That the affable goaltender is so eager to communicate in a foreign language – not always the case with hockey players, understandably – results in good-natured dressing-room chirps and candid responses.
Here, edited lightly for clarity, is an impromptu interview with a thoughtful, optimistic Samsonov on his mental pressures, moving to Canada, sushi choices and trying to watch Netflix sans subtitles.
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Sportsnet: Last time you played the Red Wings, you won the player-of-the-game belt. Who did you hand it to the next night, in Philadelphia?
Ilya Samsonov: Oh, Timmy (Conor Timmins)! First goal for Timmy with the Leafs. We’re so happy for him. Not the last one, yeah?
SN: What do you make of Timmins’ game?
IS: How you mean?
SN: What do you think of him as a defenceman?
IS: He’s (a) smart defenceman. He’s doing a good job in the O-zone and defensive zone. He’s playing great. Yeah, he’s got some poise. He’s got a lot of points [10 in 13 games] for a defensive player. I like him. Me and Matt (Murray) like everybody, yeah, because we try to support our guys who got support for us. We’re (an) unbelievable team. Nice and really good inside.
SN: After your last game, you mentioned you were thinking too much for a stretch, in your own head. What do you do to help your mental game? Is there someone you talk to?
IS: Just hard work. If you’re working hard, you get tired, yeah? And you don’t (think) too much because you’re tired. And you understand if you do the right things every day, your luck and your mental stuff comes. Everything is calm. Maybe I’m a little bit lost, you know, because the long season is hard to understand. Just the one game is everything. And after Washington [a 5-2 loss on Dec. 17], I lost my confidence a little bit. I was in a bad spot. I needed time. A little bit for recovery. I’m working hard. We got four days off for Christmas break, and hard to start in St. Louis too, because we didn’t skate. Still a bit (of a) hard time, but this is just a normal life, yeah? I don’t (think) about too much right now. I feel good. My confidence is back. My everything. My body position in the net. Nothing is ever perfect, but I feel good right now.
SN: You seemed to be putting a lot of pressure on yourself heading back to Washington. It was a big game in your mind. Too much pressure?
IS: Yeah. I lost the game before the game. I was thinking too much before the game. It’s not helpful to me, not helpful to my buddies. I was just thinking too much. Too much pressure by myself.
SN: OK. So, what do you do to take your mind off hockey, to not think too much? I remember you mentioned fishing. Are there things you like to do?
IS: Yeah, not a lot of time here. We practice a lot. I’m trying to speak with my wife (Mariya) more. Just sit together. Maybe sometimes we’ll go to the restaurants. A little bit outside. A little bit walk with the dog (a King Charles spaniel named Ruby). Just simple. I’m trying to watch some more movies right now than before. Because you’re tried. I stay in bed all day; it’s special for a day off.
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SN: What kind of movies do you like?
IS: A lot of different stuff. Sometimes I watch Russian movies. Sometimes I watch U.S. or whatever. Netflix. I watch Netflix, too.
SN: Do you put Russian subtitles on English movies?
IS: Yeah. I don’t depend on this, but my wife, she does (subtitles) all the time. She likes Netflix so much, and that’s what she does. Sometimes I watch what she does. For me, (English) is more comfortable. I … understand right now. I’m comfortable to listen with normal sound. I not do a lot of this. [Laughs.] For me, it is more comfortable to listen in Russian language. But with the guys, if we go to cinema, probably 70 per cent I’ll understand.
SN: Have you gone to the cinema with the guys?
IS: I’ve been in Washington a couple of times. I forgot how to say this movie: Forward Against Ferrari?
SN: Oh, Ford v Ferrari. Great one.
IS: I watched that and understand almost every sentence.
SN: Who have you become friends with on this team, the Leafs?
IS: Oh! You know, I stick with everybody. It’s interesting because this team, we don’t have a group, you know, like…
SN: Cliques?
IS: Yeah, yeah, yeah. This team, everybody talking with each other. We’re playing poker and everything together. It’s unbelievable. I so like it. If you go to the restaurant, you don’t go just by yourself. You go with the teammates. Yeah. At night, we’ve got some team events. Golf in Muskoka. Every trip, we’ve got a team dinner. It’s awesome.
SN: In Washington, was it more like the Russian players would hang out with each other and the Americans would do their thing?
IS: Yeah. In Washington, everybody’s scared of us, yeah? [Laughs, clearly joking.] We’re just the five Russian players.
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SN: Do you find a difference living in Canada opposed to the States?
IS: For me, yeah. I don’t know why. I liked living in Washington, too. It’s a good city for a life. I like this more — a little bit different people here in Canada. More close to the Russian people. Like, sometimes if you’re angry, you are still angry. You don’t get a fake smile. [Laughs.] In U.S., you’ll get more smiles. But here is more real people. And I like the weather — a little bit more snow here. And I like the outside here. A lot of lakes here. In the forest, same like in Russia. Especially Muskoka. Yeah, it’s not too far. Two-hour drive. It’s pretty quick. I like it more. I like the restaurants here. I like the food more in Canada. Food is better.
SN: What’s your favourite type of restaurant?
IS: Maybe a week ago. I’ve been to eat Japanese food at a 51-floor (building, AP in the Manulife Centre). Sushi stuff. The chef is (Antonio Park), Drake’s friend. I went with Der-Arguchintsev, Semyon. He and his girlfriend.
SN: Did you know Semyon before you joined the Leafs?
IS: No. Just meet here. And (while dining), I sent a message for (William Nylander). Willy likes sushi too. I said: “Man, you need to go to restaurant for sure. You will like it.”
SN: That’s my favourite food, too.
IS: So good. If you have time, try it. It’s really good.
SN: What’s your go-to fish or roll?
IS: I like uni. A little bit toro, not too much. A couple good toros. But I like salmon. In Russia, we have salmon with rice and cream cheese. Philadelphia?
SN: Yep, like a Philly roll.
IS: Yeah, thank you so much.
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