Ilya Samsonov

Caps Prospect Ilya Samsonov Has An Assassin’s Creed Themed Goalie Mask

On Monday, Capitals’ 2015 first-round pick Ilya Samsonov got a surprise start in Team Russia’s World Championship semifinal game against the United States. Samsonov was fantastic in Russia’s 2-1 win over the United States (Russia will now play Finland in the gold medal game), but talk on social media was more focused on his mask.

That’s because the 18-year-old netminder is sporting an Assassin’s Creed themed bucket. Now I know literally nothing about the video game (the most recent system I own is a PlayStation 2), so I’ll let RMNB reader Brian Phillips explain.

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By 4 years ago

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Photo: KHL

InGoal Magazine released its Top 50 NHL Goaltending Prospects for the 2015-16 season. The Washington Capitals were well represented, featuring two draft picks in the top 20.

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By Ian Oland 5 years ago

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Here’s Ilya Samsonov Posing With A Bear Because Russia

Photo: championat.com

We don’t know much about Caps 2015 first-round pick Ilya Samsonov, but now at least we know this: when he was a toddler, he took a picture with a bear. A real, live, probably hungry, almost certainly annoyed bear.

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By Ian Oland 5 years ago

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After Skipping Development Camp, Caps First-Round Pick Ilya Samsonov Looks Set For Backup Goalie Job in KHL

Photo: Mike Ehrmann

When the Capitals drafted Ilya Samsonov 22nd overall at last month’s NHL Draft, many people were surprised that the team, already stocked with goaltending talent, would select another netminder. In spite of conventional wisdom, the Capitals insisted that they always draft the best player available. In this case, Samsonov was the best player available.

“Our scouting staff as a whole, individually and as a whole, were more than happy to be able to call his name,” Capitals assistance general manager Ross Mahoney told reporters at the draft. “We’ve always talked in the past about trying to draft the best player that’s available to us and for sure we thought he was our best player that we could take with that pick, so we went ahead and took him.”

Despite a contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk that runs for three more years, the Capitals planned on Samsonov’s attending their development camp in July to work with goalie coach Mitch Korn.

“He has a contract, but we’ve had players in the past, some Russian players that we’ve drafted and they were able to come over,” Mahoney said. “We have tremendous confidence in our goalie coaches, being able to help this young man develop his game and bring it to a level that’ll get him to succeed in the NHL.”

That, however, never happened. While the Capitals first claimed Samsonov was missing camp due to a visa issue, he was actually attending Metallurg’s training camp as first reported by our own Ian Oland. Despite the mix-up, the Capitals didn’t purport to be concerned when they addressed the issue last week.

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By Chris Gordon 5 years ago

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Ilya Samsonov Would Be Willing to Play in AHL, Favorite Goalie Is Carey Price

With the 22nd pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, the Washington Capitals took Russian goaltender Ilya Samsonov. Due to an ankle injury, the 18-year-old goaltender missed the NHL’s combine in Buffalo. The day before the draft, however, TASS’s Mikhail Zislis spoke to the young Russian and asked him about everything: from which goaltenders Ilya models himself after to his entire experience leading up to the draft.

Fedor Fedin has your translation.

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By 5 years ago

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Caps Russian Draft Pick Ilya Samsonov Asked What He Knows About Organization, Gives Perfect Answer (Vine)

With the 22nd pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, the Washington Capitals selected Russian goaltender Ilya Samsonov. The 18-year-old was the best rated European goaltender and the first netminder selected in the draft. A lot of people are angry about the fact that the Caps drafted a goalie, but, I’ve gotta be honest, I’m already in love with the guy.

For instance, check out his answer when asked what he knows about the Capitals organization. Samsonov doesn’t speak any English, but I’m sure you’ll understand what he’s saying here.

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By Ian Oland 5 years ago

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