Maple Leafs agree to 1-year contract with goalie Ilya Samsonov

The Toronto Maple Leafs have added another goalie to the mix, agreeing to a one-year, $1.8-million contract with Ilya Samsonov, the team announced on Wednesday.

Samsonov, 25, was not offered a contract by the Washington Capitals and became a free agent. The former first-round draft pick (22nd overall in the 2015 NHL Draft) arrives with a high pedigree and untapped upside despite below-average numbers in net with the Capitals.

The Russian tender performed well in his rookie season, finishing the 2019-2020 campaign with a .913 save percentage (2.55 goals against average) in 26 games.

He’s been somewhat inconsistent since and struggled this season with a .896 save percentage (3.02 GAA) in 44 games with the Capitals. Samsonov did play well in the playoffs, performing to a .912 save percentage in five games.

Samsonov will be a restricted free agent next summer.

Toronto also added to its bottom-six forward group, signing winger Nicolas Aubé-Kubel to a one-year, $1 million contract. The Alberta native played 67 games with the Colorado Avalanche, scoring 11 goals and 11 assists.

Aubé-Kubel, 26, was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round, 48th overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Goalie carousel continues in Toronto, Campbell signs in Edmonton

The decision to bring Samsonov into the fold comes after the Maple Leafs traded for goalie Matt Murray, who is expected to compete with the 25-year-old for the starting job.

Murray has two years left on his contract and is owed $4.6 million from the Leafs. The Ottawa Senators will pay the remaining $1.5 million on Murray’s deal after retaining a portion of his salary in the trade.

Former Maple Leafs goalie Jack Campbell has signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers, joining former Leafs’ Zach Hyman, Tyson Barrie and Cody Ceci.

This is general manager Kyle Dubas’ latest go at shoring up a position of need in Toronto, with past starters Frederik Andersen and now Campbell departing in free agency.

The Maple Leafs failed to solve the backup issue this season after Petr Mrazek struggled in his first and only year with the team. Mrazek was eventually traded to the Chicago Blackhawks.

With Murray, Samsonov and Aubé-Kubel in the mix, Toronto has roughly $2.8 million in available cap space, with defenceman Rasmus Sandin and winger Pierre Engvall needing new contracts.