Looking at the future of the Blue jackets between the pipes

The Blue Jackets will have some solid call-up options in net next season

As I touched on earlier, both Monsters goalies (recently acquired Ivan Fedotov and AHL veteran Zach Sawchenko) haven't exactly impressed, with both players posting a sub-.890 save percentage so far.

With that being said, let's start with a player who has already made a save in a Monsters jersey.

Nolan Lalonde

Lalonde has been under contract with the Blue Jackets for a little while, as he signed with the team prior to the beginning of the 2022-23 season. Since then, he played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, split between four teams, before finally making the jump to pro hockey this year.

Lalonde has mainly been playing in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), which is the league one level below the AHL. He's been solid there, posting a 2.44 goals against average and .906 save percentage in 19 games with the Toledo Walleye.

He also played sixty seconds for the Monsters earlier this year while Fedotov had an equipment issue, saving both shots he faced in that time.

Although he hasn't developed all too well since the signing, he could maintain some experience while still offering some youth at age 22. And while I don't imagine he'll play much, if at all, in Columbus, he's still someone worth bringing up when evaluating depth at the position going forward.

Evan Gardner

A second-round draft pick in 2024, Evan Gardner is a high-ceiling prospect who could absolutely benefit from some development in Cleveland.

After posting a 1.91 goals against average and .927 save percentage (both the best in the Western Hockey League) in his draft year, the 6'1" 20-year-old hasn't been quite as spectacular over the past two seasons, although part of that can likely be attributed to a decline in team performance after the Saskatoon Blades were dominant in Gardner's draft year.

His good but not great performance recently makes him a great candidate for a change of scenery next season. Gardner even got to play in a game for the Monsters after his season in juniors ended, stopping 16 of 19 shots in a 3-0 loss.

He is very positionally sound with fantastic lower-body agility and control, and while his height isn't a detriment, it combines with a below-average blocker to result in him being beaten fairly often by rising shots and high net-front deflections.

However, his consistency and reliable positioning serve him well when he plays in front of a solid defense in clean games, and he showed these strengths when he secured a shutout earlier this season.

These traits may remind you of Jet Greaves, and I think that they compare very well, which I would say is a good sign for the younger netminder. If he develops anything like the current Blue Jackets starter, he could definitely be a long-term option between the pipes.

Sergei Ivanov

Arguably the most exciting option in the organization, Sergei Ivanov may already be set for NHL action when he comes over from Russia next year.

The six-foot-tall, 160-pound goalie was drafted in the fifth round back in 2022 after excelling in Russia's junior league. Despite fantastic stats and leading his team to a dominating championship that year, his particularly small size led him to slide in the draft.

However, his stature hasn't seemed to limit him so far, as he is currently playing his third full season in Russia's top professional league: the KHL.

Ivanov's consistent and strong performance through three years point to him being a fantastic option in the NHL much sooner rather than later. He turns 22 in a few weeks, and his contract in Russia expires after this season, allowing him to sign with the Jackets without requiring a buyout.

With him clearly showing his ability to succeed in a pro hockey league, he may just spend a few games with the Monsters next year to get comfortable with North American hockey before making a quick jump to Columbus.

With a few short-term options looking solid for next season, let's look at one goalie who will be in college next year and another who we probably won't be seeing for a few more years.