- Columbus signed Russian goalie Sergei Ivanov to a two-year, entry-level contract
- The 2022 fifth-round pick owns a .923 save percentage across four KHL seasons
- Read below for what the deal means and when Ivanov could come over
Columbus finally has its Russian goalie prospect under contract.
The Blue Jackets signed Sergei Ivanov to a two-year, entry-level contract Wednesday, with president of hockey operations and general manager Don Waddell locking the 22-year-old in through 2027-28.
Ivanov went 138th overall in the fifth round of the 2022 draft. He slid that far because teams worried he would stay in Russia long term. That is exactly what happened over the next four years.
His pro career has taken him through SKA St. Petersburg, HK Sochi, and Admiral Vladivostok. The record looks rough at 34-50-8, though the teams in front of him deserve most of the blame. A .923 save percentage and 2.65 goals-against average across 108 KHL games tell a better story, and he tacked on eight shutouts.
Putting pen to paper does not mean he is coming over right away. The organization expects Ivanov to spend the 2026-27 season in the KHL before making the jump to North America.
That is a sensible path for a 22-year-old who has already carried a heavy workload in a strong league. Columbus secures his rights and lets him keep developing without forcing him into the AHL.
The front office has spent the summer filling out its depth chart, including signing defenseman Colton White to a two-year deal. Ivanov is the longer-term swing, a goalie Columbus waited four years to finally reel in.
