Ilya
Samsonov
G · SJS · Below average
- PAL
- 34
- WAR
- 0.0
- Value
- 32
- SV%
- .891
2024-25№ 52 / 99
Ilya Samsonov (San Jose Sharks) stats, profile and latest news: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats and headlines.
Ilya Samsonov
#35G
San Jose Sharks
HEIGHT : 191 cm · WEIGHT : 94 kg · CATCHES : L
Born : February 21, 1997 · Magnitogorsk, Russia
Drafted : 2015 · WSH · round 1, pick #22
Contract : $850,000 · 2026-27 → 2026-27 · Two-Way Contract · UFA
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | W | L | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Vegas Golden Knights | 29 | 16 | 9 | 2.82 | .891 | 2 |
| 2023-24 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 40 | 23 | 7 | 3.13 | .890 | 3 |
| 2022-23 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 42 | 27 | 10 | 2.33 | .919 | 4 |
| 2021-22 | Washington Capitals | 44 | 23 | 12 | 3.02 | .896 | 3 |
| 2020-21 | Washington Capitals | 19 | 13 | 4 | 2.69 | .902 | 2 |
| 2019-20 | Washington Capitals | 26 | 16 | 6 | 2.55 | .913 | 1 |
| NHL totals | 200 | 118 | 48 | 2.77 | .902 | 15 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | W | L | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3.01 | .896 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 9 | 4 | 4 | 3.13 | .898 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | Washington Capitals | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2.97 | .912 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | Washington Capitals | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2.99 | .899 | 0 |
| Playoff totals | 22 | 6 | 14 | 3.05 | .901 | 0 | |
Ilya Samsonov: our analysis
2024-25 season: 29 GP, 16 W, 9 L, .891 SV%, 2.82 GAA, 2 SO. WAR 0.0 (52nd of 99) · PAL 34, below average.
In 2024-25, Ilya Samsonov, 29, posts a PAL Rating of 34 out of 100 (below average), and his WAR of 0.0 ranks 52nd among 99 regulars, in the bottom half.
On the other hand, workload (31, below average) and impact (35, below average) hold him back.
GSAx: -5.0 (goals saved above expected).
A clear step forward: his PAL went from 24 in 2023-24 to 34; his WAR went from -1.1 to 0.0.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 32 (poor return) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Ilya Samsonov's story
Raised in Magnitogorsk, Samsonov gravitated early toward the crease, drawn to the gear and encouraged by his grandfather. He broke into pro hockey in 2014–15 after a strong season with Metallurg’s junior team, Stalnye Lisy, and logged his first KHL minutes in relief for Metallurg Magnitogorsk on 11 December 2014.
Seen as the top European goaltender in the 2015 draft, Samsonov was selected 22nd overall by the Washington Capitals. He returned to the KHL after the draft and put up notable numbers: in 2015–16 he went 6–4–3 with a 2.04 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage through 19 games, and he was part of Metallurg’s 2016 Gagarin Cup-winning roster.
Samsonov signed a three-year entry-level deal with Washington on 4 May 2018 and started North American life in the AHL with Hershey. There he changed aspects of his technique—moving away from a knees-first style to stand taller in net—before earning NHL opportunities. He made his NHL debut on 4 October 2019, and opened his career with a remarkable run: he won each of his first 11 starts, becoming one of the very few rookies to do so.
In Washington his tenure included bright stretches—reaching 20 wins in 2021–22—and difficult moments tied to injuries, COVID protocols and playoff struggles. As a free agent he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs on 13 July 2022, produced 27 wins in 42 games and helped Toronto win a playoff series for the first time since 2004. An arbitrator awarded him a one-year, $3.55 million contract on 23 July 2023; on 31 December 2023 the Maple Leafs placed him on waivers after conceding 22 goals in his previous four games.
Internationally Samsonov has worn Russia’s crest at several junior events: bronze at the 2014 World U‑17, named top goaltender at the 2015 IIHF U18s, silver at the 2016 World Juniors and bronze in 2017. Plainly put, his game is built on adaptability—strong save percentages in the KHL, technical adjustments for smaller North American rinks and the ability to shift between starter and backup roles depending on team needs. He married in 2019 and has one son.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- Starts
- 29
- Shots against
- 752
- Saves
- 670
- %ARR / SV%
- 89.1 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
Trend
Trend
Stable
- Goals saved above expected per 100 shots: +0.87 in 22-23, -0.42 in 24-25
- PAL Rating: 24 → 34
Outlook, age included
→ StableAge 29: prime years
The trend is a hint, not a verdict. It reads recent seasons and PAL Rating (age only shapes the outlook); it knows nothing about future injuries, trades, or the defense in front of the goalie.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2024-25
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
0.0
wins above replacement
52 of 99
PAL Rating
34/ 100
Performance · Below average
48 of 74 at the position
Value Rating
32/ 100
Poor return
1.80 M$ · expected PAL 55
See full detailsHide details
- Efficiency
- 37
- Impact
- 35
- High danger
- 59
- Consistency
- 49
- Workload
- 31
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | VGK | 0.0 | 34 | 32 | 1.80 M$ |
| 2023-24 | TOR | -1.1 | 24 | 17 | 3.55 M$ |
| 2022-23 | TOR | 4.0 | 91 | 91 | 1.80 M$ |
WAR, 2024-25
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
0.0
wins above replacement
-3.8 to 2.8 — 90% interval
52 of 99 goalies
+0.1 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- Goals saved above expected
- -5.0
- Average → replacement
- +5.1
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | VGK | 29 | 0.0 | -3.8 to 2.8 | 52/99 |
| 2023-24 | TOR | 40 | -1.1 | -4.7 to 2.3 | 88/98 |
| 2022-23 | TOR | 42 | 4.0 | 1.3 to 6.2 | 13/107 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →NHL EDGE tracks every shot with a chip in the puck: where it came from, how dangerous it was, and what the goalie did with it. The percentile places the goalie within the league.
- Save %
- .89114th percentileleague avg. .900
- High-danger save %
- .81371st percentileleague avg. .805
- Games above .900
- 48.3 %29th percentileleague avg. 51.6 %
See full detailsHide details
- Goal support per game
- 3.2382nd percentileleague avg. 2.93
- Goal differential per 60
- 0.4173rd percentileleague avg. 0.12
Save % by zone
2024-2025 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Last 5 games
| Date | Opponent | Saves | GA | TOI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 15, 2025 | @ CGY | — | 4 | 64:42 |
| March 23, 2025 | vs TBL | — | 2 | 60:00 |
| March 16, 2025 | @ DET | — | 3 | 60:00 |
| March 11, 2025 | @ PIT | — | 3 | 59:27 |
| March 7, 2025 | vsPIT | — | 0 | 60:00 |
Ilya Samsonov: frequently asked questions
What is Ilya Samsonov's record in 2024-25?
Ilya Samsonov has 16 wins in 29 games in 2024-25, with a .891 save percentage and a 2.82 goals-against average.
How old is Ilya Samsonov?
Ilya Samsonov is 29 years old: he was born on February 22, 1997.
How tall is Ilya Samsonov, and how much does he weigh?
Ilya Samsonov is 6'3" (191 cm) and weighs 207 lb (94 kg).
Where is Ilya Samsonov from?
Russia: Ilya Samsonov was born in Magnitogorsk, Russia.
What team does Ilya Samsonov play for?
Ilya Samsonov plays for the San Jose Sharks in the NHL, at G, wearing number 35.
Is Ilya Samsonov injured?
No: Ilya Samsonov is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Ilya Samsonov?
Ilya Samsonov produced 0.0 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2024-25, 52nd of 99 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 34 out of 100: below average for his position.
How much does Ilya Samsonov make?
Ilya Samsonov earns $1.8M for the 2024-25 season. His Value Rating is 32 out of 100 (poor return): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Ilya Samsonov's contract end?
Ilya Samsonov's contract runs through the 2026-27 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Ilya Samsonov overpaid?
Yes, his output falls short of what his salary should buy. His Value rating is 32 out of 100 (poor return), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Ilya Samsonov a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 52nd of 99 players at his position in the NHL in 2024-25. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Ilya Samsonov getting better?
Yes: his PAL rating went from 24 in 2023-24 to 34 in 2024-25 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
What are Ilya Samsonov's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Ilya Samsonov has 200 games, 118 wins and 15 shutouts. His best season: 2022-23, with 27 wins.
Where was Ilya Samsonov drafted?
Ilya Samsonov was drafted 22nd overall (round 1) by Washington Capitals in 2015.
How does Ilya Samsonov perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Ilya Samsonov has 22 games and 6 wins in his career.
Is Ilya Samsonov married?
Yes, married to Maria Semyonova in 2019.
What is Ilya Samsonov's nationality?
Ilya Samsonov is Russian. Internationally: Represented Russia at junior level: bronze medal at the 2014 World U-17 Hockey Challenge (with Russia's national under-18 team), 5th place at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships (named the tournament's top goaltender), silver medal at the 2016 World Junior Championships, bronze medal at the 2017 World Junior Championships.
What awards has Ilya Samsonov won?
Tournament top goaltender at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships.
How many championships has Ilya Samsonov won?
1: Winner of the 2016 Gagarin Cup with Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
Where did Ilya Samsonov play before turning pro?
Stalnye Lisy (junior club) — 2014–15 season.
See also: his San Jose Sharks teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)