Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Ilya Samsonov will be testing the free agent market, according to Sportsnet’s Luke Fox.
The 28-year-old went 16-9-4 with a 2.82 GAA and .891 SV% with Vegas in 2024-25.
Before joining the Golden Knights on a one-year, $1.8 million deal last offseason, he spent time with the Washington Capitals (2019-2022) and Toronto Maple Leafs (2022-2024).
VGK@BOS: Samsonov with a great save against Morgan Geekie | Vegas Golden KnightsIlya Samsonov (VGK) makes a save against Morgan Geekie (BOS) at 12:23
of the 1st Regulation Period
While the New York Islanders would prefer not to be in the market for a goaltender, they are likely to add depth, as Semyon Varlamov’s injury status is a question mark after sustaining a lower-body injury in November that kept him off the ice through the remainder of the season.
At Clean Out Day following the 2024-25 regular season, Varlamov provided an update on his rehab progress:
“I expect to be ready for next season. Everything is going well with rehab and physiotherapy.The main focus for me to finish the rehab, hopefully soon, and have a good summer of training, and then ready for September for training camp.”
“I want to make sure I'm ready 100% for the next season,” Varlamov added. “I want to show up for the training camp by feeling good without any issues. That's the main goal.”
Varlamov Expecting to be Ready for Isles Training Camp | New York IslandersSemyon Varlamov is planning to be good to for next season after being limited to 10 games with an injury in 2024-25
While Varlamov is expected to be ready for the season, adding a strong third goaltender would be a smart insurance move.
Marcus Hogberg filled that role in 2024-25 and was serviceable during Varlamov’s absence.
In seven games before the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament, he went 2-2 with a 1.45 GAA and a .947 SV%. However, after the tournament, he struggled, going 0-6-3 with a 5.00 GAA and an .821 SV%, putting uncertainty into his 2025-26 outlook.
Adding Ilya Samsonov would also provide value to the Islanders’ AHL affiliate, Bridgeport, which allowed a league-worst 294 goals in 2024-25, 43 more than the next closest team.
With Jakub Skarek heading to IFK Helsinki in Liiga and both Henrik Tikkanen and Tristan Lennox still developing, Bridgeport could benefit from a more stable tandem in Samsonov and Hogberg.
While Samsonov would prefer an NHL role, the 2025 free-agent market is filled with goaltenders of similar caliber, which could make him open to joining the Islanders even without an expected NHL spot.
In addition to consistent AHL ice time, he would be joining a franchise that used five different goaltenders in 2024-25 and would be surrounded by fellow Russians in Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin.
Samsonov’s contract would likely be a one-year deal in the $1 to $1.5 million range.
Michael Ostrower wrote this story.
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