Former Capitals forward Stan Galiev and Ak Bars Kazan defeated Metallurg Magnitogorsk 3-1 in KHL playoff action on Friday. The loss means that Metallurg’s and Capitals’ goalie prospect Ilya Samsonov’s season has come to an end. It also means that Samsonov’s current KHL contract will also be coming to an end. His contract is set to officially expire on April 30th.
Next Steps
Samsonov and Capitals’ General Manager Brian MacLellan met in Moscow back in the middle of December. Following the meeting, it was reported that the two camps agreed to a basic contract structure, but nothing was signed. The next step will be to get an entry-level contract in place and signed. This could and should happen fairly quickly.

Photo: @samsonov_30
Once signed, the Capitals will need to decide if they want to get Samsonov to Hershey for the tail end of the season. With only 10 games remaining on the Bears schedule, including tomorrow night against the Wolf Pack in Hartford, It may not pay to rush him to the U.S. in time for less than three weeks with the Bears. Then again, Capitals brass may view this as an opportunity to begin working him into the Hershey system, so he is set for this fall and the 2018-2019 season.
By Jon Sorensen
Pingback: Latest From the Washington Capitals Rumor Mill: Ilya Samsonov, John Carlson, Ross Mahoney | NoVa Caps
Pingback: Washington Capitals Prospect Report – March | NoVa Caps
Pingback: Capitals Sign Goaltender Ilya Samsonov to Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract | NoVa Caps