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Golden Knights goaltender Ilya Samsonov throws shade at former team after first victory in Vegas

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated 10/15/24

The Vegas Golden Knights picked up Ilya Samsonov this past summer, and after his first win for the team, he immediately threw shade at Maple Leafs fans.

The Vegas Golden Knights came under fire this off-season from former forward Jonathan Marchessault for their culture issues, and while those may persist, it appears their fans and the atmosphere in the arena certainly isn't an issue. That is according to goaltender Ilya Samsonov at least, who picked up his first victory with his new team this off-season after arriving as a free agent from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

After his first victory with the team where he stopped 22 of 23 shots on the night against Pacific Division rival Anaheim, Samsonov seemingly used his interview to throw shade at his former team, stating that Vegas has the best atmosphere in the entire NHL.

'I think it's the best atmosphere in the league. I'm so happy to be here.'

Samsonov also played several years for the Washington Capitals, but given his most recent team was Toronto, it's hard to see this as anything but a shot at his former team, whose fans often come under criticism for the lack of an atmosphere inside the arena. When the Stanley Cup Playoffs come, it's easy to see the dedication from the fans however, as they often flock to Maple Leafs Square despite the yearly disappointment that their team provides, but given that he's played in front of them, no one would know the atmosphere better.

It's unclear if Samsonov truly believes this or if it's simply a way to call out the team that turned their back on him in free agency in favour of a Woll/Stolarz combination, but after the victory, he certainly ingratiated himself to the Golden Knights fans.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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