The Steelers know they’ll be without Ryan Shazier this season. The group of linebackers that are expected to replace his production are confident they can handle the job.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com Bryan Little Jersey , Tyler Matakevich and Vinny Williams are confident that the collection of guys that still have will be good enough to quell any concerns in 2018.

“They don’t give the rest of our inside linebackers credit,” Matakevich said. “I think Vinny is a tremendous player. He’s smart. We just brought (Jon) Bostic in. He’s played four years. He knows what’s going on. L.J. Fort‘s been here for a long time. He knows this system. I think we have the guys who are capable of doing it.”

Matakevich, Williams, Bostic Claude Giroux Jersey , Fort, T.J. Watt. Bud Dupree and Anthony Chickillo will be among the options Pittsburgh has to turn to in order to cover the hole created by Shazier’s injuries. The Steelers allowed 133.5 rushing yards per game once Shazier went out Week 13 as Pittsburgh struggled to adapt to his absence.

But even without Shazier, Williams believe the group in place will be enough to succeed.

“We don’t have another Ryan Shazier on our team,” Williams said. “But we do have very capable TJ Brodie Jersey , starter ready middle linebackers.”

The Washington Capitals have signed top goaltending prospect Ilya Samsonov to a three-year, entry-level contract.

General manager Brian MacLellan announced the deal Friday, six weeks after Samsonov played his final game of the season in the Kontinental Hockey League playoffs. Samsonov will count $925,000 against the salary cap each of the next three seasons when in the NHL Joonas Donskoi Jersey , plus any bonuses he earns.

Washington selected Samsonov in the first round, 22nd overall, at the 2015 draft. He’s considered one of the best goaltenders not currently playing in the NHL.

Samsonov had a 2.31 goals-against average and .926 save percentage in 26 regular-season games with Metallurg Magnitogorsk this year. It’s unclear whether the 21-year-old Russian will play for the Capitals or the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears next season.

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