James Nichols
Whereas the New Jersey Devils were once desolate of quality goaltending after the Martin Brodeur and Cory Schneider runs, they’re suddenly flush with talent in the crease. Most notably, Mikhail Yegorov, is making waves in prospect rankings, and looks to be the future in goal for New Jersey.
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The Devils selected Mikhail Yegorov in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft, 49th overall.
The crop of prospect goaltenders in 2024 was led by Ilya Nabokov, who was selected 38th overall in the second round by the Colorado Avalanche. Nabokov was the first goaltender taken in the draft.
However, in a recent article via The Athletic, Corey Pronman redrafted the 2024 NHL Draft, which saw Yegorov make a huge leap.
Whereas he was taken 49th overall in the second round, Yegorov rockets up 32 spots to become a first-round draft pick at 17th overall, and the first goaltender taken in the class. Whereas before, Pronman put Yegorov in the tier “projected to play in NHL games,” he’s now in the “bubble top and middle lineup” tier.
Pronman writes, “A year from this draft, there have been an unusual number of big movers. Cole Hutson, like his brother Lane, vaults up into the top group of prospects following a great 18-year-old season at Boston University. Other big leaps come from New Jersey goaltender Mikhail Yegorov, who was Hutson’s teammate at BU, and Igor Chernyshov, who was a top player in the OHL after he came over from Russia.”
Here’s are the five picks leading up to Yegorov at 17th overall in the redraft:
12. Tij Iginla
13. Cayden Lindstrom
14. Adam Jiricek
15. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard
16.Igor Chernyshov
That’s some pretty good company to be in.
The rest of Pronman’s redraft can be read here.
Yegorov’s ascent places him ahead of some top named talent heading into the 2024 NHL Draft, such as Konsta Helenius—who the Devils were reportedly interested in—and Jett Luchenko, selected 13th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Yegorov’s ascension should come as no surprise. After leaving the Omaha Lancers of the USHL with a 3.12 GAA and .912 SV% mid-year for Boston University, the Russian netminder went on an elite run in BU’s crease, posting a 2.15 GAA and .927 SV% at a high level of hockey.
In the process, Yegorov helped propel BU to claim the 2025 Beanpot Championship, but would drop the 2025 Frozen Four in the championship game to Western Michigan.
The Devils’ crease is currently held down by two top-tier goaltenders in Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen. However, their future appears to be on solid ground with the likes of Yegorov and Jakub Malek.
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