Whether you are an avid hockey fan or just a casual one, you probably have heard of Ilya Samsonov. After all, the Russian forward has scored a ton of goals this season and he’s become the leader of the Edmonton Oilers. Despite the fact that the team hasn’t been the most successful in recent years, Samsonov’s impact on the team is undeniable.

Hockey stats

During his rookie season with the Capitals, Ilya Samsonov was an average performer. He posted a 2.76 GAA, but his numbers improved during his sophomore year and he was the team’s starter in the playoffs. Ilya Samsonov’s numbers are still below league average, but he’s made some strides this season. He’s currently at 2.84 GAA, and he’s had an impressive run since his January assessment. He’s also gotten more opportunities to show off his skills.

While Ilya Samsonov hasn’t shown off his skills as much as the team might like, he’s been a solid performer during his short time in the NHL. His goaltending abilities aren’t as impressive as they once were, but he’s still a solid number two goalie.

One of the goals Ilya Samsonov has accomplished this season is improving his save percentage. He’s gotten better at stopping shots during even strength play. His numbers have also improved from the previous year, when he posted a 2.76 GAA. In the playoffs, he posted a 2.97 GAA. His save percentage has risen from above average to well above average, but he still hasn’t matched the league’s best.

The goaltending department is a bit more complicated than that. While he’s faced a lot of shots, he’s also faced teams that have done a little bit better in other areas. He’s faced teams that have slightly better possession metrics, better winning percentages, and lower shooting percentages. Interestingly, he’s also faced teams that he’s beaten in the NHL’s most important category, the goal.

The most impressive achievement in his rookie season was improving his save percentage. The next sexiest achievement is figuring out how to stop shots in shorthanded situations. He’s done a decent job of it, stopping 72.7% of shots in those situations.

The other big step was making a change in his goaltending tandem. Vitek Vanecek was traded to New Jersey. While he didn’t start the season as the starter, he was clearly behind Samsonov on the depth chart. Now, he’s flourishing under a lighter workload.

The Hockey Writers is the premier destination for NHL news, analysis, and commentary. Our articles are read by hundreds of writers worldwide.

Relationship with Vanecek

Having recently signed a contract extension, goaltender Vitek Vanecek has taken a significant step forward in his professional career. While he hasn’t yet played in a full season of NHL games, Vanecek has had a strong start to the season. His stats are ranked 12th among goaltenders with more than 400 minutes of ice time.

As a second-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, Vanecek has shown the ability to be a top-line netminder. He started 42 games last season. In addition to his success as a starter, Vanecek was also one of the league’s top goaltenders in penalty kills. He finished the season with a 2.67 GAA and 20-12-6 record. He had four shutouts.

He’s also an RFA and has arbitration rights. While the Capitals haven’t decided between Ilya Samsonov and Vanecek, it’s clear that Washington wants a veteran goaltender upgrade. They have four picks in the top 85 in the draft, including two second-round picks.

Vanecek had an up-and-down year in Washington last season. In the postseason, his play took a significant step back. He made saves when they were needed, but he didn’t play well in Games 5 and 6. Those two games led to his first loss as a starter. In Game 6, he gave up five goals in the third period and lost 5-2.

In the two seasons that Vanecek has played with the Capitals, he’s posted 20-12-6 records with four shutouts. His 2.67 GAA is well above the league average. He’s also been praised by the coaching staff. His teammates also like his work.

Vanecek will be a key part of Washington’s goaltending tandem next season. He’s already started three games this season. While he’s not as experienced as Samsonov, he has more consistency. While it may take time for the Capitals to decide whether they want to keep Samsonov or trade him, they’re in “win now” mode right now.

The Capitals are in the market for a veteran goaltender, and they’ll likely begin discussions about an extension for Vanecek soon. He’s currently on a three-year deal with $863,333 in average annual value.

Time in net

Having the right goalie can be the difference between winning a hockey game or losing it. It’s no secret that the Maple Leafs will need their new goaltender to perform at a high level. Luckily for them, Samsonov has been showing signs of improvement lately.

He is averaging a 1.96 GAA, which is actually good for a goalie. His save rate is also pretty decent, and he’s allowed two or fewer goals seven times in nine starts.

Samsonov grew up in the developmental system of the Washington Capitals. He was drafted in the first round of the ’15 draft and was given a qualifying offer by the Capitals before he was traded to Toronto. He spent last season with Washington, posting a record of 23-12-5 and a.896 save percentage. During his time in Washington, he was a shaky netminder.

The Maple Leafs will have to improve far beyond their opening round of the playoffs if they want to make a run at a Stanley Cup. This season will likely be a learning curve for both Samsonov and Murray.

As the former first-round pick of the Capitals, Samsonov was expected to be a starter in Washington. The Capitals traded him to Toronto for a package of players that included Matt Murray, and they’ve given him the opportunity to earn his stripes in the AHL. In two games with Toronto, Samsonov has played well, posting a 1-1-0 record.

The Leafs have signed Ilya Samsonov to a one-year deal with an estimated cap hit of $1.8 million. He’ll join a goaltending tandem that includes Matt Murray and Erik Kallgren. He’s expected to play a key role in Toronto’s Stanley Cup run. He’ll also play a big role in ensuring the Maple Leafs are able to get past the first round. He’s also got a solid chance to be a key piece of the puzzle next season, which means the Leafs will need him to do more than just play well.

The best part about the Maple Leafs’ signing of Samsonov is that they’ll control his rights as a restricted free agent. In fact, he’s got a great chance at being rewarded with a nice raise next summer.

Impact on team

During the offseason, Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov spent much of his time in Florida. He was spotted in full equipment on the day of his injury. He was injured when he tried to stop a penalty shot by Brad Marchand. He is still working his way back.

The Washington Capitals decided not to tender a qualifying offer to Ilya Samsonov. The front office believed the salary of $3-$3.5 million was too much for the backup. The Capitals decided to extend the qualifying offer to Damien Riat and Tobias Geisser.

Samsonov made only two starts last season. He was out for 19 days with COVID-19. He then returned to practice on February 8. He made a couple of conditioning starts before he was forced to sit for two weeks.

Samsonov’s performance is encouraging. He’s 6-2-0 this season, with a 2.81 GAA and has allowed only seven goals in nine starts. He’s allowing fewer goals than his previous five-game average. He also has a career low save percentage of.974. He’s been in better shape each day. He’s also a better goalie.

Samsonov had a 3.02 GAA last year. He finished with a 23-12-5 record. His 3.02 goals against average was the lowest for any goaltender in his first season with the Capitals. Despite his success, Samsonov has struggled with COVID-19. He tested positive for COVID-19 in mid-January. He’s missed 12 games this season due to injury.

Samsonov will be an important part of the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. He’ll be expected to compete with veteran goalie Matt Murray. Matt Murray is 4-0-1 in his first four games this season. Murray has been a part of some great teams in the past. He’s also had a lot of success with the Maple Leafs.

He’s a former first-round draft pick who has NHL experience. He’s also expected to compete for the top job. Having a goalie with more experience is important.

With the team’s cap crunch, Toronto is looking for a backup. If Samsonov can remain healthy and perform at his best, he can be a solid piece for the team.