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| The Caps drafted Ilya Samsonov with the 22nd overall pick |
From our friends at the Washington Capitals...
The Washington Capitals selected goaltender Ilya Samsonov with the 22nd overall selection in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft on Friday at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.
Samsonov, 18, was ranked first overall among European goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting. The 6’4”, 203-pound goaltender posted an 11-4-1 record with two shutouts, a 2.66 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in 18 games with Magnitogorsk of the Russian junior league in 2014-15. Samsonov also appeared in one game for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) last season.
Samsonov represented Russia at the 2014 World Junior A Challenge, posting a 2-1-0 record, a 1.67 goals-against average and .952 save percentage at the tournament. The Magnitogorsk, Russia, native recorded a 46-save shutout in the bronze-medal game to lead Russia to a 2-0 win over Canada East. Samsonov also represented Russia at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and recorded two wins and a .942 save percentage to earn top goaltender honors at the 2015 Under-18 Five Nations tournament. He is the first goaltender to be selected by the Capitals in the first round since Semyon Varlamov was drafted by Washington with the 23rd overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft.
