Scout on SHL Prospects That May Be An Option For Avalanche at 27 (+)
Avalanche Mailbag: 2C Rantanen, Other Sneaky Trade Targets
REPORT: Avalanche Linked To Brett Pesce?
REPORT: Avalanche Goalie Prospect Signs In Belarus
UFA’s Coming Off Injuries That Could Pay Off
Scout on SHL Prospects That May Be An Option For Avalanche at 27 (+)
Why Scouting And Drafting Goalies Is So Difficult (+)
Scout Dishes On New Avalanche Forward, Fredrik Olofsson (+)
Avalanche Film Room: Ondrej Pavel May Sneak His Way Onto Roster (+)
Avalanche Film Room: The Tantalizing (And Frustrating) Ability Of Ryan Merkley (+)
Scout on SHL Prospects That May Be An Option For Avalanche at 27 (+)
Scout Gives Names To Keep An Eye On At 27th Overall For Avalanche
Hockey Prospect’s Jérôme Bérubé on The 2023 NHL Draft, The Approach At 27, Bedard, And More
Draft Order Officially Finalized For Avalanche, NHL
Avalanche 2023 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: D Tanner Molendyk
Evan’s NHL Daily: Avalanche Linked To Pesce, Goalie Carousel
Evan’s NHL Daily: Vegas Gets Rowdy At Parade, Sharangovich Fit
Evan’s NHL Daily: Canucks Buy Out Ekman-Larsson, Karlsson Trade Still Possible
Evan’s NHL Daily: Avalanche Acquire Olofsson, Iginla Joins Flames Front Office
Evan’s NHL Daily: Habs Trying To Trade Up, Lindholm Decision Soon?
Avalanche Film Room Series: Kovalenko Lights Up KHL; Can That Translate To NHL?
Avalanche Film Room Series: Shades of Lehkonen in Kovalenko
Avalanche Film Room: Ondrej Pavel May Sneak His Way Onto Roster (+)
Avalanche Film Room Series: Nikolai Kovalenko Plays With No Fear
Avalanche Film Room: The Tantalizing (And Frustrating) Ability Of Ryan Merkley (+)
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We just talked about how difficult it is to scout and draft goaltenders last week. One of the reasons why goaltenders are difficult to draft and develop is that most teams only carry two of them, making it difficult for some to find playing time. Well, the most recent goalie draft pick for the Colorado Avalanche has found a new team, and it’s pretty far away from where he most recently played.
Ivan Zhigalov, the 7th round draft pick for the Avalanche back last season, has spent the last two years in North America playing Major Junior Hockey. It doesn’t appear that will be the case next season.
On Monday, it was reported that he signed a one-year contract to play for Yunost Minsk the Belarusian Extraleague. Zhigalov is a native of Belarus, so that part makes sense.
Last season, Zhigalov played for the Kingston Frontenacs in the OHL, and was one of the top players on a poor team. As he just turned 20 years old, he would have been an overage player next season, on top of being European. OHL teams are only allowed to carry three overage players, and two Europeans. It’s possible Kingston just didn’t want to have Zhigalov take up two of those spots. They were one of the worst teams in the OHL last season, which meant Zhigalov faced a lot of shots. That can be good and bad for a goalie.
Yunost Minsk was the third best team in Belarus last year, so we shall see how much playing time Zhigalov gets next year.
The good news about this is that it’s only a one-year deal. There just wasn’t any room for Zhigalov at the professional level this year for Colorado, but there might be next season. Former draft pick Trent Minor is on the final year of his entry-level contract, and Justus Annunen will almost certainly be re-signed. On top of that, the Avalanche will likely sign a veteran to split time with Annunen in the AHL. That would have made it difficult for Zhigalov to find playing time, so this may be best for his development.
Either way, it’s good that Zhigalov found a team to play for. Sometimes, that’s the hardest part for goaltenders.
REPORT: Avalanche Linked To Brett Pesce?
UFA’s Coming Off Injuries That Could Pay Off
how long do the avs hold his rights? Or is he gone?
They have his rights until June 1, 2024, so they’ll have to make a decision relatively soon.
Would like to have seen them sign him to play in Utah in the ECHL. I’m very familiar with the league as I owned a team in it. Most of the players age out of juniors or come out of Canadian colleges- – might have been good to keep him in NA and have more of a hand and set of eyes on his development
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