It’s trying like Alexei Kolosov, a 22-year-old goaltending prospect, can be returning to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in 2024-25. Nevertheless, he signed an entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers and was meant to play in North America this upcoming season—the KHL was by no means imagined to be an choice. In accordance with normal supervisor (GM) Danny Briere, he must “step up and respect the contract that he signed.”
“It is time for him to step up and respect the contract that he signed.”
One has to significantly surprise if this may ever be mended, if Alexei Kolosov will ever play for the Flyers. https://t.co/TjIYzem5Ht
— Jordan Corridor (@JHallNBCS) September 18, 2024
This relationship seems to be a souring one, maybe past restore—GMs don’t often speak about their gamers with this type of tone. If a commerce is in Kolosov’s future, it wouldn’t be the primary time Briere has dealt a disgruntled high prospect, because it’s one thing that unfolded with Cutter Gauthier on Jan. 8, 2024.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported that the Flyers’ asking worth for a Kolosov deal is a second-round decide, however groups are hesitant to make that sort of dedication on this time of uncertainty. So, the worst-case state of affairs right here appears easy: Kolosov is dealt to a different group for an inexpensive return. However how would that have an effect on the group’s goaltending? Who have they got between the pipes to make up for this devastating loss if all fears come to fruition? Properly, there may be one who I personally suppose may rank above the remainder when all is alleged and accomplished.
Is Zavragin the Goaltender of the Future?
All through his profession up so far, 19-year-old Yegor Zavragin has put up some spectacular numbers in Russia. A 3rd-round decide in 2023, he took the following step in 2023-24 and is seeking to take one more leap in 2024-25. Let’s see how he has progressed and examine that to a different star netminder with close-to-identical totals.
In his final marketing campaign previous to draft eligibility, Zavragin had a .930 save share (SV%), 2.13 goals-against common (GAA), and a 20-4-2 file within the Junior Hockey League (MHL). Amongst age-16 netminders with at the very least 5 video games performed, his SV% is the fifth-best ever recorded out of the 50 qualifiers. No shock, the second-best participant on that listing is two-time Stanley Cup champion Andrei Vasilevskiy with a .937 SV%—he ought to make the Hockey Corridor of Fame sometime.
Within the MHL as an entire, he completed within the ninetieth percentile for SV% in 2021-22. Zavragin’s profession trajectory has been fairly just like that of New York Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin, who’s the very best within the enterprise proper now based on some. The latter had a .920 SV% in 15 video games, placing him within the 84th percentile for the MHL in 2012-13.
Zavragin took a step again in 2022-23, placing up a .920 SV% within the MHL with 2.49 GAA and an 11-6-1 file. He was solely within the sixty fourth percentile for SV% that season, nicely behind Shesterkin’s .947 whole which put him within the 98th percentile. The previous was taken within the third spherical of the draft as talked about earlier than, whereas the latter was a fourth-round choice.
Issues actually began to get fascinating within the first season after these two had been drafted. Each performed within the Supreme Hockey League (VHL) in 2023-24 and 2014-15 respectively, placing up some promising totals. They every had a .943 SV%, inserting them within the 99th percentile for the statistic. Zavragin additionally had a .945 SV% within the MHL in 9 contests and had a whopping 19-2-2 file each there and the VHL mixed.
That’s sort of the place now we have to finish, as Zavragin is within the early levels of his 2024-25 marketing campaign. He has a .930 SV% within the KHL (Russia’s high skilled league) in two contests, which is the 14th-best mark amongst all goaltenders to this point. Shesterkin largely remained within the VHL when he was at this level of his profession, placing up a jaw-dropping .954 SV% in 25 video games. He had a .912 SV% within the KHL in seven contests.
The Shesterkin comparability might sound deceptive, because it could possibly be seen as a stretch to match Zavragin to the absolute best end result, however it has validity. First, they’ve had principally the identical path—Shesterkin performed within the KHL earlier than Zavragin did, however he put up subpar numbers general (by no means ending above the fiftieth percentile for SV%) and he solely had 22 KHL contests beneath his belt getting into his third season following his choice by the Rangers.
Apparently, the 2 finest under-21 goaltenders in VHL historical past career-wise are Shesterkin and Zavragin. Amongst netminders with at the very least 10 video games performed, the previous’s .951 SV% is first whereas the latter’s .944 SV% is second. Moreover, their MHL numbers weren’t very far off in any respect.
Proper now, we’ll must see how Zavragin does within the KHL—that can decide the sort of participant he’s. Shesterkin exploded for a .937 SV% there in 2016-17, which was his third season following his draft eligibility. Reaching these numbers throughout the subsequent two seasons (together with this one) would present simply how a lot potential Zavragin has to dominate on the NHL stage. He’ll must show himself at Russia’s highest stage, however it’s trying good to this point. The event curve may be very, very promising at this level.
Different Flyers Goaltenders Price Noting
Zavragin is the very best non-Kolosov goaltender within the Flyers’ system in my eyes, however Carson Bjarnason is additionally price mentioning. The 19-year-old was chosen by the Orange and Black within the second spherical of the 2023 NHL Draft, posting good numbers within the Western Hockey League (WHL). He had a .907 SV%, placing him ninth out of the 49 netminders who performed in at the very least 10 video games.
Associated: Philadelphia Flyers’ Goalie Depth Bodes Properly for Their Future Between the Pipes
As well as, NHLers Sam Ersson and Ivan Fedotov may have a brilliant future forward of them. Ersson is 24, and he’s the Flyers’ present starter—a significant marketing campaign for him awaits in 2024-25, as he’ll have to indicate his price. Fedotov is 27 however solely has three video games in North America to his identify, as he’s a long-time KHL veteran. He’s on a two-year contract with quite a bit to show—he had a .921 SV% within the KHL all through his tenure within the league.
Simply because the Flyers have some promising gamers between the pipes doesn’t imply shedding Kolosov is something however unlucky. Nevertheless, if the connection between him and the group’s administration can’t be repaired, there are answers.
Stats courtesy of QuantHockey
