Thanks to some excellent reporting by a friend of the 5th Line, Mark Scheig, an interesting piece to the goaltending puzzle here in Columbus has finally become clearer. Per a conversation that Mark had over text with Don Waddell, the expectation is that well-regarded Blue Jackets Russian goaltending prospect Sergei Ivanov will take his talents to North America following the 2025-2026 KHL season, when his contract expires with SKA St. Petersburg.
Sergei has been a bit of a fan favorite among those CBJ fans who have paid close attention to his development in the MHL, VHL and KHL following his selection in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft by Columbus at pick 138 overall. That pick was acquired in a swap with the San Jose Sharks by former General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen, but it appears that the young netminder is still well-regarded among the current front office regime in Arch City.
Ivanov is a fascinating goaltending prospect. In a position that perhaps overvalues size and stature, Ivanov is the definition of “undersized.” Per the KHL official website, he stands at 183cm, which is about 6’0” precisely, and 80 kg, which is about 176.37 pounds.
That means he’s about the same height as CBJ netminder Jet Greaves, but a full 20 lbs. lighter. Less of a frame means less of the net filled up, but Ivanov has thrived in the 2nd best professional hockey league in the world despite that, and at just 21 years of age (he turned 21 in April).
On some admittedly awful KHL teams over the past several seasons, Sergei has put up a 0.921 save percentage and a 2.72 GAA. Solid numbers, but the teams around him haven’t been helpful to his win/loss record. He’s posted just 21 wins in 79 games played (39 losses, 6 shootouts).
Per HockeyProspecting.com’s Byron Bader, Russian goaltending prospects with similar development curves (regardless of size) include none other than names like Igor Shesterkin, Sergei Bobrovsky, Ilya Samsonov and Nikolai Khabibulin. There are some varied names on that list, but the first two should definitely excite Jackets fans.
Shesterkin especially has made a career out of being an undersized Russian goaltender, and although he has an inch and several pounds on Ivanov, he and other similar sized netminders have made it clear that skill can trump any size requirements in the position.
Sergei, much like many goalies of any size, relies on an elite level of athleticism to drive his success. What he cannot rely on, however, is his size bail him out from time to time like bigger-bodied goalies can. Despite his physical shortcomings, however, his KHL results are encouraging regardless. He plays a mostly stand-up style with an ability to move laterally better than most his size.
With the expectation finally in place that Ivanov will finally be headed over to North America to seek a place in the NHL, it will make the goaltending competition out of camp in the 2026-2027 campaign fascinating. Assuming no other moves are made, the goaltending competition would be Elvis Merzlikins, Jet Greaves (assuming he re-signs as an RFA) and Ivanov.
Next summer it, will be fascinating to see if Sergei can make the roster and what he can do with his shot in the NHL.