It wasn't supposed to be this way.
As high as the Toronto Maple Leafs' hopes are that they can turn their 6-foot-7 beanstalk of a prospect into a legitimate, homegrown NHL goaltender, Dennis Hildeby was never intended to be recalled in 2023-24.
No matter how well the 22-year-old Swedeheamoth (222 pounds to go with his sky-scraping height) performed in his first season on this side of the Atlantic Ocean — and he has performed very well — Hildeby was to remain in the minors.
After playing all his hockey at home in Sweden, this was to be his development year, a chance to adapt to the smaller sheet, a fresh league, a new culture.
Hildeby is not NHL-ready.
But with Joseph Woll injured long-term and Ilya Samsonov's game in shambles, Hildeby has become NHL-necessary.
"I felt like I've done something good to get this callup. So, I'm very excited," the Maple Leafs' fourth-stringer-turned-second-stringer told reporters Monday, following his first tuneup session with the big club.
"It's going to take a few practices to adapt, I think."
Coach Sheldon Keefe noted how Auston Matthews blew a puck clean past the AHLer off the rush in one of the team's first drills and stressed that Toronto wants to give Hildeby time to get up to NHL speed.
"It's a different animal," Keefe said. "Still has lots to learn and a long way to go."
The coach said he wouldn't rule out starting veteran Martin Jones on both ends of this week's back-to-back (Tuesday at L.A., Wednesday at Anaheim). No flight helps.
As for Samsonov, the fallen No. 1 cleared waivers Sunday and will report to the Marlies, where, Keefe said, he can "just focus solely on himself and his game."
For Hildeby's development as much as Samsonov's rehabilitation, the Leafs will "do everything possible" to rebuild the Russian's confidence and get him back up to the show.
Partly because finding outside goaltending help via trade is expensive, and GM Brad Treliving would much rather use his assets to acquire a defenceman.
For a newcomer to the small North American surface, Hildeby has been impressive on the farm, going 7-5-3 with a .919 save percentage.
Nicknamed the "Hildebeast" ("I don't really mind. It works," he said), Hildeby believes his size has helped with the transition. It doesn't hurt to see over screen-setting forwards, either.
"I've never really had anyone in front of me that's the same size as me," Hildeby said.
Keefe added: "A lot of pucks just hit him because of the size."
The Maple Leafs have loaded their third- and fourth-string goaltenders on the charter and are off to California.
With Toronto having lost three straight and five of their past six, Jones — with some help from Hildeby — will be trusted to get the season back on track.
One-Timers: Ryan Reaves practised for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury tow weeks ago, but he won't play in L.A. or Anaheim.... David Kämpf draws back into the lineup after Saturday's healthy scratch. "I was surprised," he said. "But it is what it is. I need to focus on the next game and be better."... Treliving continues to grind away at an extension for William Nylander.
Maple Leafs projected lines Tuesday in Los Angeles
Knies – Matthews – Marner
Bertuzzi – Tavares – Nylander
Robertson – Domi – Järnkrok
McMann – Kämpf – Gregor
Rielly – Brodie
Benoit – McCabe
Giordano – Liljegren
Jones starts
Hildeby
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