Capitals Shout Out Samsonov On Jumbotron In Homecoming

WASHINGTON — Things may have not ended well between the Washington Capitals and Ilya Samsonov, but the team still paid tribute to him in his return to D.C. at Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Washington gave Samsonov a shoutout on the jumbotron, thanking him for his time with the organization. Samsonov, a 2015 first-rounder, spent three years up with the big club, finishing his tenure with a .902 save percentage.

Here was the tribute. He received a mild applause from the crowd.

The Russian couldn't exactly find consistency over the course of his Capitals career, and after alternating him and Vitek Vanecek in 2021-22 and seeing neither take the reins for the starting job, they elected to overhaul their situation in net. Washington elected not to qualify Samsonov, and he became an unrestricted free agent. Vanecek was traded to the New Jersey Devils.

Samsonov signed a one-year, $1.8 million deal with the Maple Leafs on the opening day of free agency. He is sharing the crease with Matt Murray. He had gotten off to a great start with Toronto, going 9-2-0 with a .939 save percentage and 1.70 GAA.