The San Jose Sharks have added another name to their goaltending mix, and for Vegas Golden Knights fans, it’s a familiar one: Ilya Samsonov.
San Jose announced the signing on September 8, 2026, calling him a new addition to the crease. The deal is a one-year, two-way contract, which makes the move look less like a headline-grabber and more like a depth play for a team that already has Alex Nedeljkovic, Yaroslav Askarov, and Eric Comrie in its goaltending room.
Samsonov’s career numbers still look solid on the surface. Over six seasons, he owns a 2.77 goals-against average, a .902 save percentage, 15 shutouts, and a 118-48-25 record.
But his most recent run in Vegas is the version Golden Knights fans are likely to remember. In 2024-25, he posted a 2.82 GAA, a .891 save percentage, and two shutouts.
That came after a much stronger 2022-23 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, when Samsonov finished with a 2.33 GAA, a .919 save percentage, and four shutouts.
Last season, Samsonov split time back in Russia with HK Sochi in the KHL, where he appeared in 14 games and put up a 3.27 GAA, a .903 save percentage, and one shutout.
Before that, he spent 2024-25 backing up Adin Hill in Vegas. Hill responded with a 2.47 GAA, a .906 save percentage, and four shutouts over a six-year deal, getting the kind of rest that made Samsonov’s presence useful behind him.
For San Jose, the move adds insurance. The Sharks now have another option if one of their current goalies goes down, and their goaltending spending remains modest. According to PuckPedia, they had $6.15 million committed to the position before Samsonov signed.
There is, of course, a reason some teams have had reservations. Samsonov has built a reputation for misplaying the puck and putting himself in tough spots, the kind of mistakes that can undo otherwise strong stretches in net. That risk comes with the territory when a goalie plays an aggressive style.
Still, the Sharks are taking a low-cost swing on depth. And for Golden Knights fans, it sets up the possibility of seeing a very familiar goaltender again next season - one they know can be useful, and one they know can also open the door to trouble.
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