Overview
- San Jose announced Tuesday that it signed 29-year-old goaltender Ilya Samsonov to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-27 season.
- A two-way deal allows the Sharks to move Samsonov between the NHL and AHL with different pay rates, which typically signals the team views the signing as depth insurance rather than an immediate starter upgrade.
- Samsonov spent 2025-26 with HK Sochi in the KHL, appearing in 14 games and posting a 3-8-0 record with a 3.27 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.
- San Jose’s current goalie group — Yaroslav Askarov, Alex Nedeljkovic and Eric Comrie — projects to control NHL roster spots to start the season, so Samsonov is most likely to compete for a backup or AHL assignment unless injuries or an unusually strong camp change the picture.
- Samsonov made roughly 200 NHL appearances earlier in his career with Washington, Toronto and Vegas and the short deal gives him a chance to rebuild his standing while offering the Sharks a low-risk veteran option.