Kings Should Look at Ilya Samsonov for the Starter Role Next Season

After the Los Angeles Kings were eliminated from the playoffs at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers, their front office’s attention turned to the offseason.

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The Kings have some big decisions to make this year to help improve their roster and get them past the first round. Their biggest question mark is their goaltending and who will start in net next season.

Well, with a very weak goalie market this summer, the Kings should take their best shot at improving their situation between the pipes by signing Ilya Samsonov.

Samsonov has spent the last two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and has struggled at times. But along with that struggle have also come stretches of very dominant play. If the Kings can get a reliable backup goalie, then they can give him the needed rest, to get the best out of him.

When Samsonov was given rest in between starts with the Maple Leafs, he would typically have a strong performance for the next number of games that he started.

If the Kings can get a good tandem going with him as the starter, then they may be able to solve their goaltending issues, at least for next season.

Samsonov’s time in Toronto looks to be coming to an end because he wants a term for family stability. Unfortunately, he would like to stay in Toronto, but it doesn’t seem likely. With his struggles in the playoffs, the Kings may be able to get him relatively cheap.

GM Rob Blake should offer him somewhere around the $3.5 million range for two to three seasons. Depending on who the backup is, they could look for a reliable goaltending tandem for $5 million or less.