Barring any unforeseen injuries or situations, the Flyers have their goaltending duo figured out for the 2024-25 season.
Sam Ersson will be the starting goaltender. Watching his workload will be important to not burn him out down the stretch. That is where Ivan Fedotov will come in. He has the inside track on the backup spot after signing an extension in the offseason.
After having to make a quick adjustment to the NHL, having a full offseason and training camp will be helpful to him making an impact. If the Flyers can put him in the net with confidence, it will allow them to keep Ersson fresh as the season wears on.
Beyond those two, the Flyers have a few options waiting in the wings. They won't be ready to join the team next season. But they do have some exciting pieces that will be here in the next few years.
For this, we will only look at goaltenders under contract with the Flyers or in the organization via the draft. So players on AHL-only contracts will not be factored in. And no, Matej Tomek does not count either. While Philadelphia still owns his rights, he returned overseas where he has been since the 2019-20 season. There are no expectations of him making a return to North America.
Flyers goaltending prospects outside of the NHL
Alexei Kolosov
At the time of this writing, Kolosov is still a member of the Flyers organization. He is under contract for the next two years after the first year of his deal was burned while on loan in the KHL. The 22-year-old may or may not report to training camp next month. But that is not what this is about.
Kolosov made his North American debut toward the end of the season, appearing in two games for the Phantoms. As for any player adjusting to a different country and style of play, the numbers aren't the best. Kolosov posted a 3.03 GAA and a .885 SV%. He allowed four games in his first game but did take the overtime win. His second outing was much better as he allowed just two goals, but unfortunately, the team couldn't score enough for him.
Kolosov came off a season with Dinamo Minsk where he appeared in a career-high 47 regular season games plus six postseason games. He earned 22 wins with four shutouts, both career highs as well. His 2.39 GAA was the best he has had while playing in the KHL. His save percentage was down slightly (.912 to .907) but that could be explained by the five extra games most likely. It's not enough to be concerned.
While Cal Petersen may have the inside track on the first call-up, Kolosov could find himself in the NHL at some point next season if he plays well. That is if he comes back.
Carson Bjarnason
The only other goaltending prospect under contract is Bjarnason. His ELC, which would kick in this season if he were to turn pro, will slide a year as he returns to the WHL for his final season of juniors. He's coming off a career-best in GAA and save percentage, stats he has improved upon as each season has gone on. He won 24 games, the most in a single season of his WHL career.
The playoffs were a different story as the Wheat Kings failed to win a game and Bjarnason was torched in four games. He had a 7.15 GAA and a .831 SV%, the latter stat mildly impressive for what he had to face. In one of those games he faced 41 shots and in another, he saw 39 shots. It's tough for a young goaltender when you are constantly pelted with shots game after game.
Bjarnason did see his stock rise this summer with a strong performance for Canada at the World Junior Summer Showcase. His play could earn him a spot on the roster for his country come December. His best showing was the final game of the showcase in which he stopped 27 of 28 shots, though the United States came out on top in the shootout win.
Bjarnason is likely to begin in the AHL to start his professional career. With Petersen off the books after this season, Bjarnason should have a good spot to man the crease in Lehigh Valley depending on the status of other Flyers' goaltenders. Some argue his place in the rankings of other goaltenders, but he could end up being a solid piece nonetheless.
Yegor Zavragin
Zavragin is one of the most exciting goaltending prospects in the pipeline simply based on the body of work he already has. He will make his KHL debut on loan for HK Sochi this upcoming season after a trade to SKA St. Petersburg. The numbers speak for themselves on what Zavragin has already accomplished.
Zavragin was named the VHL's best rookie last season and had the best save percentage (.943) in the league as well. He went an incredible 13-1-0 in 17 games while posting a 1.60 GAA and recording three shutouts. To make things better, this was his first season in the league after appearing in a single game for Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk in 2022-23. He also appeared in nine games for Mamonty Yugry in the MHL, posting an equally impressive 1.63 GAA and a .945 SV%.
The move up to the KHL will be a good test for the 19-year-old who is still a few years away from making his North American debut. But the Flyers have to like what they have seen in his first season after being drafted.