Prospect Info: Mikhail Yegorov - pick #49 2024 NHL Draft

[Bad Goalie]

I have Victor Ostman in my keeper league so I tuned in a couple times last season to watch Maine only to see that Boija had usurped him as the starter. Admittedly I couldn't draw too many conclusions from a couple games, but the knee jerk observation is that Boija is a little undersized by NHL standards.

Boija would have to sign a two year ELC, so he/his agent would probably be looking for a team with only 4-5 goalies signed for 2025-26.

NHL: Markstrom (UFA 2026) - Allen (UFA 2025)
AHL: Daws (RFA 2026) - Poulter (RFA 2025)
ECHL: Brennan (RFA 2026)
Europe: Malek (RFA 2026), Louhivaara (unsigned)
NCAA: Yegorov (unsigned)

Maybe depends if Boija is looking to sign now or go back for his junior year. We might have a crowded crease if Malek comes over next season and if Daws isn't slotted as the NHL backup.

Edit: Offhand, I'd be willing to bet a box of donuts that San Jose will look to sign an undrafted goalie even after they acquired Yaroslav Askarov. They only have one goalie on their reserve list as they didn't bother signing their goalie picks from the 2021 and 2022 drafts. If I were an agent for an undrafted goalie, San Jose might be one of the few teams who could offer up an AHL backup spot right off the bat.

I'm under the impression that one of these guys will be in a trade whether in the off season or in the summer. If I was a betting man Daws goes the way of Schmid.

Brennan will be on the final year of his ELC next season ('25-26). he has been in the ECHL this season and last. He has yet to play an AHL game. In fact he has only played 31 games with Adirondack as of today and his 2-yr numbers leave much to be desired.
2023-24:
3.16 GAA/.896 SV%/13GP

2024-25
3.76 GAA/.873 SV%/18GP

Right now he occupies the last spot in the pipeline.

That would probably see Allen retained for another season to back up Marky.

Poulter (24) and Malek (23) in Utica.

Yegorov (20) at BU for yr. 2

Brennan (22) still in Adirondack

If Daws (turns 25 in December, '25) is till around he's either in NJ as Marky's backup or fighting a war with Makek and Poulter (who has already outplayed him in Utica the past 2 seasons).

There would be room for Boija to take out Brennan in Adirondack or he could play his Jr. year in Maine and move into the pipeline in 26-27 when both Marky and Allen are out of time. At that point either Poulter and or Malek step in/who knows how good Yegorov looks at that point/ Boija is definitely at least in Utica and who knows just how good he has become by then. The #1 in NJ is completely unknown at that time. My bet is it isn't Daws.

Only time will sort this out, but the Devils' goalie pipeline is not over filled with can't miss NHL future talent. If I'm Fitz, unless Brennan sets the hockey world on fire, I'd try to trade him before he reaches UFA. If there are no bites I wouldn't qualify him.

So, entering 2026-27 you'd have Poulter, Malek, Yegorov, and Boija and maybe Daws. As of today that's a pool most NHL teams would be happy with. Who's to say Marky isn't still given another season based upon how does in his 2 seasons. That would allow Yegorov and Boija to get another year of profesional hockey on their resume.

I love hypotheticals. You get the impression you can't go wrong. LOL! LOL!