Knights add backup goalie from Maple Leafs in free agency
The Golden Knights appear to have found their backup goaltender.
Former Toronto and Washington netminder Ilya Samsonov signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the Knights, general manager Kelly McCrimmon said Monday.
Samsonov, 27, went 23-7-8 last season while posting career worsts in save percentage (.890) and goals-against average (3.13). He is 102-39-21 with a .904 save percentage and 2.76 goals-against average in five NHL seasons.
Samsonov will partner with goaltender Adin Hill and serve as the replacement for Logan Thompson, who was traded to the Capitals on Saturday for two third-round picks.
“We did a lot of work on our goaltending,” McCrimmon said. “(Goaltending coach) Sean (Burke) feels (Samsonov’s) a real good goaltender that had a down year and is a perfect guy to bet on and bring in. A similar mindset or thought process to when we acquired Adin Hill.”
McCrimmon said the Knights are also working to bring back goaltender Akira Schmid on a new deal. Schmid was acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Devils on Saturday but needs a new contract.
The Knights’ plan is for him to become their new No. 3 goaltender. The team’s previous No. 3, Jiri Patera, signed a two-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks on Monday.
The Knights also agreed to new two-year contracts with restricted free agents Pavel Dorofeyev and Kaedan Korczak. Dorofeyev’s deal has an average annual value of $1.835 million. Korczak’s has an average annual value of $825,000.
McCrimmon said Korczak, 23, will be in the NHL full-time next season.
“He’s more than ready to step into an NHL lineup,” McCrimmon said.
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.