A former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender fell on some hard times this past summer. After leaving Toronto following the 2023-24 season, Ilya Samsonov hoped to get his NHL career back on track with the Vegas Golden Knights.
However, the 28-year-old spent last season backing up Adin Hill. He managed to see action in 29 games, but didn’t really impress. The emergence of Akira Schmid largely made Samsonov expendable this season.
Surprisingly, Samsonov did not get an offer to his link from any other NHL club. Even the Maple Leafs, who needed emergency goaltending help at the start of the season, did not kick the tires on their old hand.
So, Samsonov found himself forced to decide. After playing with three NHL teams, the Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Vegas Golden Knights, Samsonov returned to his native Russia to play with the HC Sochi of the KHL.
Samsonov signed a two-year deal with a unique provision. If he gets an offer from an NHL club, he can leave the KHL and return to North America.
Sergey Demidov of RG Media quoted Samsonov regarding his decision:
“I talked to my family and decided that right now I just want to play hockey and enjoy it. I got tired of just practicing without games.”
The decision led to Samsonov returning to Russia, stemmed from the lack of offers from NHL clubs. But there might be another shot at the NHL down the road.
Samsonov’s Playoff Experience with Capitals, Maple Leafs Potentially Attractive
One of the biggest issues most teams face throughout the season is injuries. All too often, we’ve seen teams scramble to find goaltending help amid injuries.
Samsonov dealt with that experience while playing with the Maple Leafs. During the 2024 playoffs, Samsonov went down with an injury during the team’s first-round series with the Boston Bruins.
His replacement, Joseph Woll, also went down with an injury. That situation forced the Maple Leafs to roll with Samsonov in the decisive Game 7. The Maple Leafs ultimately lost that game on an overtime goal.
Still, that’s the sort of experience that other NHL clubs could look at moving forward. Teams looking for depth amid injuries or inconsistency could find a decent option in Ilya Samsonov. Of course, that next opportunity depends on the Russian netminder finding his groove again in the KHL.
Samsonov is still young enough that he can rediscover the game that made him a first-round pick in 2015.
Samsonov Hoping for a Bounce-Back Season and Return to the NHL
The former Maple Leafs netminder’s goal is to have a solid bounce-back season this year in the KHL. If everything goes well, that could mean a return to the NHL at some point next season.
As Demidov quoted Samsonov:
“I want to show what level I’m at and how well I can play.”
That attitude could open the door for Samsonov to get one more NHL contract. With goaltending at such a premium, teams like the Maple Leafs, among others, could find value in bringing Samsonov back to North America.
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