The San Jose Sharks have packed a lot of goaltending into their organization this summer, and the latest move only adds another name to the mix.
Ilya Samsonov is now in the fold after the Sharks signed him to a contract at the NHL level, though he’s likely headed for the San Jose Barracuda. He joins Eric Comrie and Kyle Keyser, two other veterans who signed NHL deals this summer and are also expected to report to the Barracuda. On the AHL side, the Barracuda added Connor Hasley on an AHL contract, and Matt Davis is already under contract there as well.
At the NHL level, the goaltending picture looks settled. It’s all but confirmed that Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic will form the Sharks’ tandem, which pushes the real roster questions down a level.
Because Comrie, Keyser, and Samsonov are all on NHL contracts, it’s unlikely any of them will be sent to the ECHL. That points toward a three-goalie rotation in either the NHL or AHL, with the Barracuda the most likely landing spot for that juggling act.
The other piece of the puzzle is Wichita. The Thunder currently don’t have a goaltender on their roster, and that opens the door for Davis and Hasley to handle the workload there.
Davis appears capable of handling AHL duty if needed and could be recalled if injuries create a mess at the top two levels. Once the signing of Yaroslav Korostelyov is official, he’ll likely be assigned to Wichita as well, completing that goaltending group.
In Other News...
Sharks Quietly Have A Blue-Line Decision To Make On Nolan Allan
Nolan Allan has already become one of those low-key roster pieces the Sharks have to keep in view as they sort out their blue line for the months ahead. Acquired in a January trade with Chicago, Allan spent most of last season in the AHL with Rockford and the Barracuda, but he brings the kind of defensive edge and physicality that usually fits on the lower pairings once a team needs stability more than flash.
The timing matters because San Jose clearly sees something worth keeping around, having just locked him in on a new two-year deal. With that kind of commitment in place, Allan is likely to stay on the radar as a depth option for the NHL club, especially if injuries start opening up spots, and the Sharks now have to decide how long they want to leave a player like that in limbo before the next move becomes unavoidable. [Read more 🡒]
Sharks Add A Goalie With Something To Prove
The Sharks have added another name to their goaltending picture, bringing in Ilya Samsonov on a one-year, two-way deal for the 2026-27 season. General manager Mike Grier announced the signing, and it brings Samsonov back to North America after he spent last season in Russia with HK Sochi. He has NHL experience already, having previously spent time with the Vegas Golden Knights and Toronto Maple Leafs.
For San Jose, the move adds competition and insurance in a crease that already has a clear early-season plan in place. The Sharks are expecting Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic to open the season as their tandem, but Samsonov gives the organization another veteran option if the depth chart changes or the season takes an unexpected turn. [Read more 🡒]
Sharks Fans May Finally Get Their Say On One Annoying SAP Center Issue
The Sharks are inviting fans into the buildings creative process this preseason, using a series of social media polls to gather input on the SAP Center atmosphere. The team says the preseason lab will let supporters weigh in on the in-arena experience, with music, lighting and other game-night elements all part of the conversation after a summer in which the new goal song, Power Bite, drew a mixed response from the fan base.
San Jose is framing the effort as a way to let the crowd help shape what they hear and see when the puck drops, and it could be a useful pressure valve for a team that has heard plenty about certain game presentation choices. The open question is how far that feedback will go and whether the polls lead to any real changes once the preseason experiments start rolling. [Read more 🡒]