The Washington Capitals made a huge change to their roster this offseason when they decided to wipe the slate clean in terms of their goaltending. Vitek Vanecek was traded to the New Jersey Devils and Ilya Samsonov was not tendered a qualifying offer making him an unrestricted free agent.

Samsonov, now a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, penned a goodbye note on Saturday to the organization that drafted him and its fans.

“Thank you to the @capitals organization for drafting me in 2015 and giving me a chance to fulfill my NHL Dreams,” Samsonov wrote. “These past 3 years in D.C have been unforgettable! Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, and management for pushing me to be a better goalie and person every day. We’ve made some amazing memories that I’ll never forget.”

He added, “Lastly, thank you to the entire D.C community for making me feel at home. The amazing fans supported us every single night, and are a big reason why my time with Washington was so special!”

Samsonov will join another entirely new goaltending tandem in Toronto as he competes with veteran Matt Murray for the starting gig with the Leafs.

🖊 We've signed goaltender Ilya Samsonov to a one-year contract. #LeafsForever

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 13, 2022

Farewell, Ilya. Good luck up north!

Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong/RMNB