Goalkeeper Market Shifts Across Continents
The Kontinental Hockey League announced that veteran netminder Sergei Ivanov will spend a second consecutive season with SKA St. Petersburg, a move that underscores the league’s confidence in his steady development.
Ivanov, a 2022 fifth‑round selection of the Columbus Blue Jackets, has risen to the No. 2 spot in the franchise’s prospect rankings according to The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, and he posted a .928 save percentage in 33 appearances for Admiral Vladivostok during the 2023‑24 campaign.
His career in the KHL spans three seasons, having suited up for Admiral Vladivostok, HC Sochi and now SKA St. Petersburg, where he will again serve as a backup to the club’s starter.
Latvian goaltender Raivis Ansons, a 2020 fifth‑round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, signed an ECHL contract with the Bloomington Bison after four years within the Penguins organization, bringing a modest 20‑point AHL résumé to the mid‑west.
Ansons spent a month in the ECHL during the 2025‑26 season before committing to the Bison, a move that follows a stint in the AHL where he recorded 20 points in 119 games.
Across the Atlantic, Evan Fitzpatrick, a 2016 second‑round selection who captured a Memorial Cup in the QMJHL, has agreed to terms with the Coventry Blaze, transitioning from Germany’s DEL to the UK’s EIHL.
Fitzpatrick’s most recent KHL stint with Nürnberg Ice Tigers saw him finish 9‑14‑0 with an .885 save percentage, a record that reflects both his potential and the challenges of securing a regular role in North America.
Prospect Rankings and Future Outlook
The convergence of these signings highlights a broader trend of KHL clubs leveraging experienced overseas talent while NHL teams continue to evaluate prospects like Ivanov, whose .928 save percentage places him among the league’s most reliable backups.