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!

 

[Nocashstyle]

Apologies if this was already posted.

His English is fantastic. I know he was in the USHL last year too. But he has less of an accent than guys like Ovi and Malkin who have been in NA for like 20 years lol

 

[MasterofGrond]

His English is fantastic. I know he was in the USHL last year too. But he has less of an accent than guys like Ovi and Malkin who have been in NA for like 20 years lol

His mother apparently made it a priority for him to learn it. Figured if hockey didn't work out, it would open more opportunities. (also if you want to be an NHL goaltender, which he always has, it doesn't hurt either lol).

Have to imagine there's no better way to really immerse yourself in it and go from "knowing it" to fluency than riding around on a bus in the american midwest with a bunch of f***ing american teenagers, lol.

 

[Guttersniped]

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!

We’re presumably not going to qualify Brennan and he’ll walk, pretty simple.

Hard to see them not having Daws in the system next year and going with zero guys who’ve played a NHL game in the minors.

 

[My3Sons]

We’re presumably not going to qualify Brennan and he’ll walk, pretty simple.

Hard to see them not having Daws in the system next year and going with zero guys who’ve played a NHL game in the minors.

Unless something changes dramatically down the stretch I expect NJ will try to keep Allen or add another veteran to replace him. I'm skeptical they roll with either Daws or Poulter at the NHL level. My guess is they get one more year in Utica and Malek starts in Adirondack.

 

[Nocashstyle]

We’re presumably not going to qualify Brennan and he’ll walk, pretty simple.

Hard to see them not having Daws in the system next year and going with zero guys who’ve played a NHL game in the minors.

Yeah, at absolute worst, Daws has proved he’s a viable 3rd string call up that can look like a competent enough NHL goaltender most of the time. He probably has next to no trade value and provides a lot more to the organization’s (already thin) goaltending depth than whatever late round pick they would presumably get for him.

They already chose Daws over Schmid this past offseason. It’s difficult to see them moving on from Daws with no one else to confidently fill his role.

 

[Bad Goalie]

We’re presumably not going to qualify Brennan and he’ll walk, pretty simple.

Hard to see them not having Daws in the system next year and going with zero guys who’ve played a NHL game in the minors.

Remember what I said about hypotheticals?

Having watched Daws for his time in Utica I am very skeptical about his chances of becoming an NHL regular.
He still gives up wrap around goals down here. @Bleedred is going on about how he gives them up in NJ as well. He gives up more goals on wrsitshots high out on the boards than any keeper I have ever seen. He has clear sight of the shots and ends up on his knees, sometimes waving his glove and sometimes not, as the puck goes over his shoulder and into the net. He has games where he all of a sudden just suddenly implodes. His best game is when the shots are from in close. The farther away shots come from the more dangerous they seem to be for him. He'll be insane 1 game and the next game he just sucks. He's been at this too long not to have developed a consistent level of competency.

As to going into next year without any NHL experience in the minors, how is that any different than Daws and Schmid both being there at the same time? I have seen teams come into Utica with 2 keepers who have not been in the NHL. It is not a rarity. Many NHL teams have 2 veteran guys they can depend on and they grow their minor leaguers to the point that at least 1 of them can be called up. Oftentimes that called up keeper soon becomes a regular up there and sometimes #1 right away and other times a short ways into the future. That's what they developed him for. You can see in their game that they won't be around in the minors very long.

Terreri and Billington were here together and both made it to NJ.

I had the same thoughts watching Marty here back with the Utica Devils and he didn't have a guy here with NHL experience either. He stepped in with the Devils and never looked back.

Demko was here with another guy not going to be an NHL keeper, but you could see Demko wasn't going to be here very long and he wasn't. He was chosen to move Marky out.

I didn't feel the same way about Schmid and he's gone in spite of a flash of excellence.

I don't feel that way about Daws either. I don't think he has shown he's definitely an NHL goalie in spite of having played a few games there with different performance levels. I certainly could be wrong, but he isn't tipping the scales with me now.

I am leaning towards the belief that the goalies who will be with the current Devils core on their best runs for the cup are not there yet. It could very well be Malek and Yegorov. We just don't know. Keepers are extremely unpredictable and all of a sudden there he is. Sometimes he has been developing for awhile. Other times he just explodes upon the scene. The devils will need that guy if they are going to win the cup again and we just don't know if he is in the pipeline or not. We can SPECULATE our brains out, but he will have to show up!

 

[StevenToddIves]

I know goalies aren't really your thing and they're definitely one of the trickier positions to predict but between Yegorov and Malek, they seem to have some high end goalie prospects. A far cry from the Ken Appleby, Gilles Senn types. What are your thoughts?

With goalies, I'm really a layman. I'm not attuned to the nuance like I am with forwards and defensemen. But I can tell you that this is a big, extremely athletic kid with lots of poise and intelligence. This is certainly foundational to becoming a good NHL goaltender. Beyond that, you're probably better off asking @evnted or @Guadana who have better instincts projecting netminders than myself.

 

[Guadana]

So many Hockey East goalies are already earmarked for the NHL: we drafted Yegorov last year, while Jacob Fowler of BC was drafted by the Canadians in 2023 and Phil Svedbâck of Providence by the Bruins in 2021.

Albin Boija of Maine is not yet drafted and Interesting to me (as a Black Bear fan). He's Swedish and 21 (I think but maybe 22) and is dominating hockey east right at the moment, lifting his team to number 5 nationally last weekend. As with the Russians there of course are now and have been a number of fine Swedish goalies in the NHL (Lundqvist, Ullmark and our own Markstrom come to mind).

Plus Boija has the Maine pedigree. An unusual number of Maine goalies have succeeded in the NHL:
as Jimmy Howard (15 years, 543 games), Ben Bishop (12 years 413 games), Garth Snow (13 years, 368 games) and Mike Dunham (12 years, 394 games).

Of course I can’t forget to mention Jeremy Swayman right now.

I think that's quite impressive for a single college program.

I'd be very interested in what some of the posters here who watch a lot of prospects, as @StevenToddIves and @Guadana about think of Boija's prospects at this point. Worth a draft pick for someone in my eyes, I don't think he will go unclaimed in this year's draft. No team can have too much goaltending in the pipeline in today's NHL.

I have nothing to think about him. Im not the goalie guy, mostly I see athletism, reaction, positioning and thats all. For me its hard to evaluate goalies. At least much harder than forwards and especially defensemen. And I think goalies are build on the characters, more than any others. I saw Russian goalies who were better than some actual NHL goalies but they cant crack NHL or even be regular KHLers sometimes, because they just not ready. And Im not focusing on goalies from another world at all because when Im watching games Im trying to track players Im watching for. Sometimes I can catch some moments but again - with goalies we need to watch a lot more. Because sometimes goals or dangerous chances are on the defense shoulders, sometimes goalies can make beautiful saves again and again but they are making it because they are bad at positioning and still very flexable and fast to work against juniors(but it will never work against adults).
I would like to know about some pro or home scout who is good enough to find 4 right goalies in a year.

 

[Guttersniped]

Remember what I said about hypotheticals?

Having watched Daws for his time in Utica I am very skeptical about his chances of becoming an NHL regular.
He still gives up wrap around goals down here. @Bleedred is going on about how he gives them up in NJ as well. He gives up more goals on wrsitshots high out on the boards than any keeper I have ever seen. He has clear sight of the shots and ends up on his knees, sometimes waving his glove and sometimes not, as the puck goes over his shoulder and into the net. He has games where he all of a sudden just suddenly implodes. His best game is when the shots are from in close. The farther away shots come from the more dangerous they seem to be for him. He'll be insane 1 game and the next game he just sucks. He's been at this too long not to have developed a consistent level of competency.

As to going into next year without any NHL experience in the minors, how is that any different than Daws and Schmid both being there at the same time? I have seen teams come into Utica with 2 keepers who have not been in the NHL. It is not a rarity. Many NHL teams have 2 veteran guys they can depend on and they grow their minor leaguers to the point that at least 1 of them can be called up. Oftentimes that called up keeper soon becomes a regular up there and sometimes #1 right away and other times a short ways into the future. That's what they developed him for. You can see in their game that they won't be around in the minors very long.

Terreri and Billington were here together and both made it to NJ.

I had the same thoughts watching Marty here back with the Utica Devils and he didn't have a guy here with NHL experience either. He stepped in with the Devils and never looked back.

Demko was here with another guy not going to be an NHL keeper, but you could see Demko wasn't going to be here very long and he wasn't. He was chosen to move Marky out.

I didn't feel the same way about Schmid and he's gone in spite of a flash of excellence.

I don't feel that way about Daws either. I don't think he has shown he's definitely an NHL goalie in spite of having played a few games there with different performance levels. I certainly could be wrong, but he isn't tipping the scales with me now.

I am leaning towards the belief that the goalies who will be with the current Devils core on their best runs for the cup are not there yet. It could very well be Malek and Yegorov. We just don't know. Keepers are extremely unpredictable and all of a sudden there he is. Sometimes he has been developing for awhile. Other times he just explodes upon the scene. The devils will need that guy if they are going to win the cup again and we just don't know if he is in the pipeline or not. We can SPECULATE our brains out, but he will have to show up!

“As to going into next year without any NHL experience in the minors, how is that any different than Daws and Schmid both being there at the same time?”

2020-21 was the biggest goaltending shit show in Devils history so I’m happy to not repeat that.*

Daws has a good amount of NHL experience and he’ll still be waiver exempt next season. He’ll be useful to have next season as depth, his future is secondary after that.

Honestly the only issue I see is Daws is on a one way deal next season, and we’re cheap about AHL salary, but I assume we’ll do it for goalie depth.

We have zero idea what we’re getting in Malek. The NHL team has never played Poulter in any of his call-ups. Neither are 3Gs we should be comfortable with, it’s that simple.

*EDIT: Forgot that in 2020-21 we didn’t go with just Daws & Schmid in the AHL, we signed Wedgewood to be our 3rd. He started in the NHL due to injuries and then we lost him on waivers.