Sharks Sign Ilya Samsonov To Two-Way Deal

The San Jose Sharks has signed goaltender Ilya Samsonov to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-27 season. This deal offers Samsonov a return to the NHL after spending last season with HK Sochi of Russia’s KHL. The 29-year-old netminder last appeared in the NHL with the Vegas Golden Knights. He has also spent two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and three with the Washington Capitals.

Samsonov faced a string of injuries during his last stint in North America – and a move to Russia didn’t kick the bug. The veteran joined Sochi in November and was pulled after two periods in his debut with the team, due to low conditioning, the Russian goaltender told RMNB. He would return to the crease in nine of the next 10 games – marked by one shutout, two wins, and 24 goals against. Those rocky performances earned Samsonov a backup role that would grant him only 14 total games in the Sochi lineup. He totaled three wins, a .903 save percentage, and a 3.27 goals-against-average in those appearances.

While his return to the KHL will be a blemish on his record, Samsonov’s return to North America could be the start of a rebound year. A two-way contract will demand top fitness from the veteran of 200 NHL games, should he want to find his way back to the top flight. In his best season – the 2022-23 campaign with the Maple Leafs – Samsonov managed an impressive 27 wins and .919 save percentage in 42 games. Those are commanding numbers, though Samsonov has only managed a save percentage above .900 two other times through his seven-year career. In total, he has recorded a .902 Sv%, 2.77 GAA, and 118-48-25 record in the NHL.

Samsonov joins a crowded goalie room in San Jose. Alex Nedeljkovic and Eric Comrie are set to battle for the NHL backup role behind Yaroslav Askarov. Nedeljkovic proved to be an effective balance to Askarov last season, while Comrie brings rich experience and a reliable backup presence. The Sharks could opt to keep both on the NHL roster to start the year to maintain some flexibility in net. That decision would leave Samsonov as the likely AHL starter, in competition with Kyle Keyser. If one goalie wins out in San Jose’s backup race, Samsonov will have to fight with the other for minutes with the San Jose Barracuda. Either way, his path to an NHL return will likely require injuries or poor performance from higher on the depth chart.