Before last week’s NHL Draft, Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said the club would extend qualifying offers to its two young goaltenders, Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov. A week later, Vanecek is a New Jersey Devil after being traded by Washington.
Now, Samsonov is an unrestricted free agent after the Capitals made the decision not to extend a qualifying offer to the 25-year old. A shocking development to say the least. Two young starting goaltenders gone in the blink of an eye.
The decision to trade Vanecek was merely the case of the Capitals getting an offer they couldn’t refuse from the Devils. Washington moved up in the second round and gained a third-round pick in this year’s draft.
As for Samsonov, the call to let him go was financial and performance-based, as The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir explained.
The Capitals were projected to pay Samsonov at least $3 million through arbitrations. The cost was just too steep for Washington who viewed Samsonov as a backup.
Samsonov had an exceptional start to his NHL career, compiling a 16-6-2 record in 22 starts as a rookie in 2019-20. However, his 2020-21 season was rocky on and off the ice. He entered the season thrust into the starting role following Henrik Lunqvist being unable to play due to heart surgery.
Injuries and COVID-19 derailed Samsonov’s season. Ultimately, he lost his primary starting role to Vanecek. He still posted a 13-4-1 record in 18 starts.
Last season Samsonov split time with Vanecek in the regular season. In 44 starts, Samsonov was 23-12-5, but his goals-against-average ballooned to 3.02 and his save percentage dropped to .896. After Vanecek struggled in the first two games of the Capitals’ first-round playoff series against Florida, Samsonov took over in net.
Despite getting a standing ovation from Capitals fans in Game 3, Samsonov wasn’t enough as Washington was bounced out of the playoffs in six games.
The Capitals have their eyes set on acquiring a veteran starting goaltender. One who can help carry the team back to prominence. Washington has not won a playoff series since winning the Stanley Cup in 2018.
Free agency options at goaltender are thin. Darcy Kuemper heads the list after a stellar performance in the Colorado Avalanche’s run to the Stanley Cup title. Toronto’s Jack Campbell is the next best option. Maybe the Capitals reunite with Braden Holtby after two disappointing years following his departure?
But, the Capitals feel they must turn the page and get an upgrade. Samsonov never took full ownership of starting netminder in Washington. He hits free agency, looking for a second chance. Maturity could go a long way in his development moving forward.
