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Washington Capitals: 2019 expectations for Ilya Samsonov

By Michael Marzzacco

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 18: Goalie Ilya Samsonov #30 of the Washington Capitals tends the net against the Boston Bruins during the third period of a preseason NHL game at Capital One Arena on September 18, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 18: Goalie Ilya Samsonov #30 of the Washington Capitals tends the net against the Boston Bruins during the third period of a preseason NHL game at Capital One Arena on September 18, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The Washington Capitals have plenty of goaltending depth in their system. Ilya Samsonov enters his biggest season.

When the Washington Capitals drafted Ilya Samsonov at 22nd overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, he was known as the “goaltender of the future”. Now with Braden Holtby entering the last year of his contract, that NHL future is looking closer than ever for Samsonov.

Samsonov remained in the KHL for three seasons with the Metallurg Magnitogorsk. In 2015-16 he went 6-4-3 in 19 games with a 2.04 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage. The next season he improved his record to 15-3-5 in 27 games with a 2.13 GAA and .936 save percentage.

Following the 2017-18 season where Samsonov went 12-9-1 in 26 games (2.31 GAA, .926 save percentage), the Capitals signed him to a three-year entry level contract. Washington knew his future from the draft selection, a good 2016 development camp, and some solid KHL seasons. It was time for that next step in Samsonov’s development.

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He was sent to Hershey, Washington’s AHL affiliate, after training camp last season. In Samsonov’s first season with the Bears, he went 20-14-2 in 37 games with a 2.70 GAA and .898 save percentage with three shutouts. Samsonov split goaltending duties with Vitek Vanecek.

Samsonov got off to a slow start to the season, which isn’t a surprise since he had to adjust from the bigger-sized KHL rinks to the smaller ones used in North America. In an article by Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post (subscription required), Samsonov’s english speaking was improved by teammates Nathan Walker and Vanecek.

Samsonov lost his first three games but earned his first AHL win on Oct. 27, 2018 stopping 19-of-22 shots for a .857 save percentage. That win would be the first of winning three of his next four games.

Samsonov’s two shutouts came in back-to-back games in net. Jan. 12 was his first where he stopped all 18 shots from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms while four nights later he stopped all 16 Binghamton Devils shots.

The Capitals extended Vanecek’s contract over the summer to a three-year extension so expect the duo to be back with the Hershey Bears for the 2019-20 season unless Samsonov has an impressive training camp and outperforms current Capitals backup goaltender Pheonix Copley.

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Even so, it’s likely Samsonov will be spending the bulk of 2019-20 in Hershey but don’t rule out any callups. With the unknown on Holtby, expect to see Samsonov get a little bit of NHL experience as well. When he does, the coaches, scouts and general manager Brian MacLellan will finally get a look at what the future could hold.

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