Ilya Samsonov has had a rough couple of games for the Vegas Golden Knights. He's allowed 10 goals in his last two games while saving... 31 shots. He's on Kelly McCrimmon's chopping block, especially after a mediocre February. Here, he has a GAA of 3.79 and a save percentage of .810.
Those stats aren't good enough to even land you a backup goaltender role in the NHL, let alone the Golden Knights. Instead, fans will clench their collective butt cheeks every time you take the ice. Questions will arise from the masses, wondering if they'll win a game where he's starting.
"Oh no! It's that bad Russian goaltender again!"
"Is he going to be a goaltender and tend the goal?"
Ah, there it is. Imagine watching a backup goaltender let five goals in against a last-place team in the Central Division. It's enough to make you go on hyper-exaggerated YouTube rants that exemplify the team's frustration. Thank goodness the Golden Knights have a Stanley Cup. Otherwise, this would've been the entire fanbase.
But it seems that backup goaltender isn't the only player that shouldn't return next season. Obviously, he has his own flaws (which will be nitpicked at shortly), as do the other two candidates. However, these players are also tied to one-year deals, making it easy pickings for McCrimmon. Let's start with the obvious player that won't make it back next season.
Ilya Samsonov (obviously)
It goes without saying at this point. The entire month of February soured on the netminder as quickly as John Cena turned on Cody Rhodes. However, other statistics tell the story about how the 28-year-old has been a swift kick in the family jewels for Golden Knights fans (from MoneyPuck).
Player | Goals saved above expected | Save % above expected | GAA better than expected | Wins above replacement | Puck freezes per save |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ilya Samsonov | -2.5 | -0.0018 | -0.10 | -0.41 | 0.098 |
Mind you, these are coming from 22.68% of incoming shot attempts blocked by teammates. Add 1,441 minutes of ice time and fans shouldn't expect Ilya Samsonov back. It's good that Kelly McCrimmon signed him to a one-year, $1.8 million deal. He can forget about this contract after the 2024-25 season is over.
Tanner Pearson
It's tough seeing Tanner Pearson mentioned in this list because he has a great story. He came from being on a PTO to joining the Golden Knights on a one-year deal. However, he's gone ice cold since January 7, only scoring one goal in that span.
While getting nine goals and 10 assists is nice for a bottom-six forward, going nearly two months with only one goal doesn't inspire confidence. The good news is the picking are slim, especially after McCrimmon re-signed numerous guys during the season. Could Pearson get a deal soon? Crazier things have happened.
Adin Hill
So here's the thing. One can make a case that Adin Hill can stick around. He's been solid when the Golden Knights needed him to be. That included getting key shutouts against teams like the Edmonton Oilers. However, they're in a tough situation with his $4.9 million contract.
Do you pay him less and keep him around (especially if he falters)? Or do you keep him around if he gets red-hot before (and during) the playoffs? One can argue that this could be Victor Olofsson. But the Swedish forward actually has a friendly deal ($1.075 million cap hit), where McCrimmon can extend him to a similar deal to Brett Howden's. That's why Hill is picked in this scenario.