5 goaltenders who could replace Arvid Soderblom next season

Ilya Samsonov is a better option than Soderblom at this point

A while back, I listed five low-cost goaltenders the Blackhawks could go after, and Ilya Samsonov was not among the unrestricted free agents mentioned. But if Davidson wanted to spend a little more money, Samsonov would be a great option, as the Toronto Maple Leafs will probably look to invest elsewhere. 

Samsonov is still young enough to fit in with a young team like Chicago, and while this season’s numbers were uninspiring, they also shouldn’t define him. His 19 wins are about the only positive, but he can thank Auston Matthews and an incredible Maple Leafs team for them. Besides that, Samsonov has an 0.889 save percentage, a 3.12 GAA, and an underwhelming 0.471 quality starts percentage. 

But let’s look at how well he fared last season, which should imply that Samsonov is just having a down year. In 2022-23, he finished with 27 wins, a 0.919 save percentage, a 2.33 GAA, four shutouts, and a 0.675 quality starts percentage. 

Should Samsonov walk in free agency and the Blackhawks were to sign him, it doesn’t mean he’s sticking around long-term. But remember, Petr Mrazek is only signed through 2025-26, so inking Samsonov to a three or four-year deal, for example, also wouldn’t be a bad idea, thanks to his age and potential.