The San Jose Sharks have brought in a familiar NHL name, signing goaltender Ilya Samsonov to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-27 season, general manager Mike Grier announced Tuesday.
The financial terms have not been disclosed. Even with the agreement in place, Samsonov looks like a long shot to crack the Sharks’ opening-night roster, with Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic expected to form the team’s tandem to begin the season.
Samsonov is back in North America after spending the 2025-26 season in Russia. He had been with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2024-25 before heading to HK Sochi of the Kontinental Hockey League.
In 14 games for Sochi, the Magnitogorsk native went 3-8-0 with a 3.27 goals-against average, a .903 save percentage and one shutout. Sochi struggled badly around him, finishing last in the KHL with a 16-2-8-42 record, one of the worst marks in league history.
His career has followed a far different path than many once expected. After Braden Holtby’s departure in 2020, Samsonov was viewed as a potential long-term No. 1 for the Washington Capitals. Instead, inconsistency and a criticized work ethic pushed him out of favor, and he eventually landed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in July 2022.
In Toronto, he played more than half the games in 2022-23, but Joseph Woll moved ahead of him in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Maple Leafs lost to the Florida Panthers in the second round. The next season brought another dip, though Samsonov still opened the playoffs as Toronto’s starter against the Boston Bruins.
His struggles again opened the door for Woll, but Samsonov was back in net for Game 7 after Woll was injured. He performed well, yet Toronto still fell in overtime.
Samsonov signed with Vegas in the summer of 2024 and served as a capable backup to Adin Hill. In 29 starts, he went 16-9-4 with a 2.82 GAA, an .891 save percentage and two shutouts.
Through 200 career regular-season NHL games, Samsonov has a 118-48-25 record with a 2.77 GAA, a .902 save percentage and 13 shutouts. In 22 postseason appearances, he is 6-14 with a 3.05 GAA and a .901 save percentage.
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