REPORT: Golden Knights Find Their Backup Goaltender In Ilya Samsonov

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The Vegas Golden Knights have reportedly signed Ilya Samsonov to a one-year deal.

The now-former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender struggled last year posting a .890SV% and 3.13GAA in 40 starts. In his first season with the team, he finished with a .919SV% and a 2.33GAA. The Golden Knights are hoping he can find a middle ground in this prove-it deal.

Samsonov is still just 25 years old and is a talented goaltender. When he is on his game and confident, he can take over and win games on his own. His downside is the mental part of his game. When things go wrong he loses his confidence quickly and things go badly.

When he's on his game, he's reading the play well and doesn't have much excess movement in his crease. When he's not, he second-guesses himself and is swimming from side to side when there isn't reason to do so.

One advantage for Samsonov in Vegas is he'll be playing behind a stellar defence core and the best defence core he's ever played with.

If the Russian netminder can improve his mental game and play to the level he and others thought he can, this is a deal that can reap a lot of benefits for the Golden Knights.

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