Yegor Zavragin expected to start season with HK Sochi

After a trade to SKA Saint Petersburg, a promotion to the KHL for Yegor Zavragin was inevitable. He impressed in both the MHL and VHL over the years and did not have much else to learn at that level. Moving to the KHL was the next step in his development.

That development likely won't take place with Saint Petersburg, though. The team is loaded at the goaltending position. Nikita Serebryakov was acquired last season by SKA and was. their primary goaltender. He appeared in 41 games, posting a 2.00 GAA and a .935 S%. Serebryakov had five shutouts as well. He posted solid playoffs numbers as well, recording a 2.24 GAA and a .921 SV% in 10

Serebryakov signed a four-year deal after being acquired by SKA, so he won't be going anywhere. The team also has Pavel Moysevich and Artemi Pleshkov under contract as well. Moysevich is a top goaltending prospect in the upcoming draft. He debuted in the KHL this past season, appearing in 13 games and posting a rather impressive 1.25 GAA and a .942 SV%. Moysevich also played in the VHL, recording a 2.31 GAA and a .927 SV%.

Moysevich did appear in 10 playoff games in the SKA-1946 St. Petersburg in the MHL. He was solid during the postseason, recording a 1.93 GAA and a .946 SV%. He helped the team capture their second Kharlamov Cup.

As for Pleshkov, the 21-year-old made his SKA debut last season. He shined in 10 games, posting a 1.97 GAA, a .926 SV%. and three shutouts. Pleshkov played extremely well for St. Petersburg in the MHL as well. In 23 games, he recorded a 1.85 GAA and a .943 SV% with two shutouts.

With these three goaltenders on the roster for SKA, there isn't room for Zavragin at this time. A start with HK Sochi is where he is expected to begin. Zavragin even said so himself in a recent interview with MatchTV.

"I think it’s no secret to anyone that I will start the season in Sochi. With all due respect to Ugra, this is already an opportunity to play at the KHL level. Sooner or later I had to take a step forward from Khanty-Mansiysk. And if such an opportunity presents itself now, it would be stupid to refuse. Yes, I could spend another year in the VHL, but for my own development it’s better to take a step sooner rather than later."

Zavragin added that the decision to move to the KHL was entirely his decision. The team was upfront about their discussions with SKA. But if Zavragin did not want to go, he did not have to. The communication was open between all sides as the move to the higher league was entirely left up to Zavragin.

The Flyers have enjoyed the progess that Zavragin has made in Russia. They will have eyes on what he can do in the KHL.