No matter what the Washington Capitals do this summer to address their goaltending situation, rookie netminder Ilya Samsonov is making a strong case to win the most prestigious award bestowed upon a rookie.
If Samsonov receives the award it’ll be the first time a Caps player took home the Calder Trophy since Alex Ovechkin did it following his rookie season in the summer of 2006 after an astonishing 52-goal season. As the years went on, we all know Ovechkin’s numbers are a normal thing.
Back in 2015 was when the Capitals drafted this particular Russian star. Samsonov was the highest goalie the Caps had taken in a draft since Olaf Kolzig in 1989 at 19th overall.