Former Maple Leafs Goaltender Ilya Samsonov Officially Leaving the NHL
Goaltender Ilya Samsonov, who spent parts of two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, has decided to leave the NHL and has signed a contract in is home country.
It looks like the NHL career of a former first-round draft pick who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs has come to an end.
Unable to find an NHL team to sign him in free agency, Goaltender Ilya Samsonov has signed a two-year deal with HC Sochi of the KHL. It will mark his first time playing outside of North America in seven years.
Former Maple Leafs Goaltender Ilya Samsonov Has Returned Home
Samsonov's rights in the KHL were owned by his hometown team of Magnitogorsk Metallurg, but were traded to Sochi just before the new two-year deal was signed. Samsonov will be 30 when this new contract ends, which is a pretty good indication that his time in the NHL is over.
Samsonov signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2022to play with fellow netminder Matt Murray. He was quickly elevated to the role of starter after Murray was injured two games into the new season.
Samsonov signed another one-year contract with Toronto the following season, but was placed on waivers afer giving up 22 goals in four games.
A Multi-year Deal Outside the NHL Has Been Signed by Former Maple Leafs Goaltender Ilya Samsonov
While he showed flashes of potential with the Maple Leafs, Samsonov's entire NHL career was rocky, to say the least.
He started with the Washington Capitals, where he was the heir apparent to Braden Holtby. However, injuries and other issues prevented that from happening, and the Caps opted to let him walk. It was a similar situation in Toronto, as well as with the Vegas Golden Knights, the last NHL team he played for.
Samsonov was unable to find the consistency needed to maintain a spot with an NHL team. Perhaps his stint in the KHL will help him find his game again.
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