Thank you to the 70 readers who voted in this year’s countdown of the 25 best players in the Columbus Blue Jackets system under the age of 25. Today we continue with #19:
#19 Sergei Ivanov
Voting
19th of 40
Total Points: 1380
Average Placement: 19.437
Last year: 19th (no difference)
Biography
Birthdate: April 3, 2004
Birthplace: Chernushka, Russia
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 157 lbs
Position: Goalie
Catches: Left
Acquired: Drafted in Round 5 (Pick #138 overall) by Columbus in the 2022 NHL Draft
Pyotr Andreyanov may be the new top goalie prospect in the system, but Sergei Ivanov wants you to know that he still intends to be an NHL starter. He’s undersized against the average NHL goalie today, but the numbers he’s put up in the KHL can’t be ignored. He will have the opportunity starting in the 2026-27 season, assuming he comes to North America, to make his mark long before Andreyanov makes the jump.
2024-25 Season
Ivanov played for HK Sochi in the KHL last season after spending time with SKA and Admiral Vladivostok in previous seasons. Because HK Sochi did not have a great year (they finished second-to-last in the league), Ivanov did not have a great year either. While he still put up a respectable .911 save percentage and a 3.00 GA, it was definitely a step back from previous seasons.
2025-26 Outlook
The Russian goalie will reportedly spend one more season in the KHL before moving to North America. He has rejoined SKA, which should allow him to have a better season.