Latest news with #Sigalet
Edmonton Journal
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Meet goaltender Ivan Prosvetov, the Calgary Flames' new backup plan
Article content He is the presumed frontrunner to serve as Dustin Wolf's backup in 2025-26, although AHL all-star Devin Cooley will do his darnedest to change that. Article content Both Cooley and Prosvetov are signed to one-way contracts for the upcoming season. Both require waivers to be assigned to the Wranglers, a risk the Flames will have to take with whoever winds up as the third-stringer. Article content 'I called Cools after the signing was announced and just said, 'Nothing changes. The competition is wide open,' ' Sigalet stressed. 'We want those guys to push each other and fight for that job. Article content 'I think both guys see the opportunity, so it should be a good competition at camp.' Article content Article content Opportunity is all that Prosvetov is asking for. Article content As a kid, he remembers watching highlight clips from Miikka Kiprusoff's heyday with the Flames. Article content He had a photo of Martin Brodeur as the screensaver on his computer. Article content Article content He lists Sergei Bobrovsky, Carey Price, Pekka Rinne and Semyon Varlamov as some of his other puck-stopping idols. Article content In addition to an NHL dream, the staff in Calgary are confident that Prosvetov has a big-league skill set. It's the same sort of potential they saw in Vladar when he was stuck as third on the depth chart in Boston. Article content Now 27, Vladar could be the go-to goalie for the Flyers next season. He moved to the City of Brotherly Love on a two-year deal that carries an annual cap hit of US$3.35 million. Article content 'I just think in the games that (Prosvetov) played over the last few seasons in the NHL, you saw a lot of good,' Sigalet said. 'Maybe a little bit inconsistent, but you could see the talent there. Article content 'He feels like he grew his game a lot in Russia and he wants an opportunity to have another chance and another kick at the can. When you talk to him, he wanted to go back and play a lot of games and work on his game, and he wanted to come back over when he felt like he was ready to step back into that level. We had a good conversation and he seems like a really mentally tough goaltender, and he has something to prove.' Article content Article content And now, a place to prove it. Article content 'It's huge — the chance to play in the best league in the world, with the best players,' Prosvetov said. 'And in Canada, too. We call it the capital of hockey, right? So I'm really happy for another chance.' Article content After spending parts of five seasons in the AHL's Pacific Division, Prosvetov needs no introduction to his potential partner-in-pads. Article content He tried to outduel Wolf in the minors. Now, he can't wait to join forces with him. Article content 'He was always a top guy in the American League and it was kind of just a matter of time until he was going to have his shot,' Prosvetov said of Wolf, the runner-up for the Calder Trophy. 'Obviously, a great year by him last year. Article content 'He's definitely a great goalie. He moves really well, reads the play well, really skilled. And I've heard a lot of good things about him, so I really look forward to play with him and even learn something from him. I'll just try to help him out, and he's going to help me, if we're goalie partners.'
Calgary Herald
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Meet goaltender Ivan Prosvetov, the Calgary Flames' new backup plan
Article content He is the presumed frontrunner to serve as Dustin Wolf's backup in 2025-26, although AHL all-star Devin Cooley will do his darnedest to change that. Article content Both Cooley and Prosvetov are signed to one-way contracts for the upcoming season. Both require waivers to be assigned to the Wranglers, a risk the Flames will have to take with whoever winds up as the third-stringer. Article content 'I called Cools after the signing was announced and just said, 'Nothing changes. The competition is wide open,' ' Sigalet stressed. 'We want those guys to push each other and fight for that job. Article content Article content As a kid, he remembers watching highlight clips from Miikka Kiprusoff's heyday with the Flames. Article content He had a photo of Martin Brodeur as the screensaver on his computer. Article content Article content He lists Sergei Bobrovsky, Carey Price, Pekka Rinne and Semyon Varlamov as some of his other puck-stopping idols. Article content In addition to an NHL dream, the staff in Calgary are confident that Prosvetov has a big-league skill set. It's the same sort of potential they saw in Vladar when he was stuck as third on the depth chart in Boston. Article content Now 27, Vladar could be the go-to goalie for the Flyers next season. He moved to the City of Brotherly Love on a two-year deal that carries an annual cap hit of US$3.35 million. Article content 'I just think in the games that (Prosvetov) played over the last few seasons in the NHL, you saw a lot of good,' Sigalet said. 'Maybe a little bit inconsistent, but you could see the talent there. Article content 'He feels like he grew his game a lot in Russia and he wants an opportunity to have another chance and another kick at the can. When you talk to him, he wanted to go back and play a lot of games and work on his game, and he wanted to come back over when he felt like he was ready to step back into that level. We had a good conversation and he seems like a really mentally tough goaltender, and he has something to prove.' Article content Article content And now, a place to prove it. Article content 'It's huge — the chance to play in the best league in the world, with the best players,' Prosvetov said. 'And in Canada, too. We call it the capital of hockey, right? So I'm really happy for another chance.' Article content After spending parts of five seasons in the AHL's Pacific Division, Prosvetov needs no introduction to his potential partner-in-pads. Article content He tried to outduel Wolf in the minors. Now, he can't wait to join forces with him. Article content 'He was always a top guy in the American League and it was kind of just a matter of time until he was going to have his shot,' Prosvetov said of Wolf, the runner-up for the Calder Trophy. 'Obviously, a great year by him last year. Article content 'He's definitely a great goalie. He moves really well, reads the play well, really skilled. And I've heard a lot of good things about him, so I really look forward to play with him and even learn something from him. I'll just try to help him out, and he's going to help me, if we're goalie partners.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Does Kirill Zarubin have a future in Calgary's crease?
If the Calgary Flames had waited any longer, they weren't going to get their guy. That was the feedback that Jordan Sigalet, the Flames director of goaltending, received from his counterparts around the league after selecting Russian netminder Kirill Zarubin with the No. 84 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. 'You get the text messages right after — 'Screw you, we were taking him next!'' Sigalet said with a chuckle. 'So then you feel kind of relieved. 'There were a lot of people that were hoping he was going to slip to the fourth round. I've heard a couple teams were going to take him with their next pick in the third round. So I think we got him at the right time. 'We think we have a really, really good goalie with a bright future ahead of him.' And now comes the patience part. It's worth noting that the Flames have not often drafted a twine-minder as early as the third round, especially not of late, so they clearly believe that Zarubin has major upside. Many consider him to be Calgary's most promising puck-stopping prospect, a candidate to someday be Dustin Wolf's sidekick/understudy at Scotia Place, but even the most optimistic projections would put him a few years away. Adding to the intrigue is that there's a measure of mystery with this 19-year-old masked man. Flames fans have been scouring social media for highlight clips, but those can be hard to find. While Zarubin is studying English, a sign he is serious about a sooner-than-later move to North America, he isn't ready for interview requests just yet. With the current advisories against travel to Russia, Sigalet wasn't able to attend any of his games this winter with AKM Tula in the junior-level MHL, although he didn't miss a single start on the online stream. Since Zarubin will remain with the same organization for another season, it will be a similar setup in the coming months. If he is able to secure a visitor visa, Zarubin hopes to attend development camp this summer. That would mark his first trip to Calgary and he'd likely be surprised by how many folks will show up to watch him practise with the other future pieces. 'His maturity, both physically and mentally, it's far beyond his age,' Sigalet said of Zarubin, who is 6-foot-3, roughly 200 pounds and turns 20 in September. 'He's big. He's smart. He's very, very patient. And he has mature details for a 19-year-old. He's very calm, very composed. But when he has to get uncomfortable, he can move. He can get to his spots. 'I talk to him every other day on WhatsApp and he's very accountable, too. If I write him about his game and tell him he had a good game, it's always, 'No, I could be better. I could have stopped one of those.' 'He played a little bit less this year, just because their 20-year-old, (Ilya) Kanarsky, was back. Kirill played more last year because that kid was hurt. But when he did play, he was outstanding and just got better as the season went on.' That didn't go unnoticed. As Zarubin was in the midst of posting a 12-9 record, 2.34 goals-against average and .935 save percentage in 21 appearances with AKM Tula, Sigalet's phone continued to buzz — not with curses from his counterparts but rather with reach-outs from recruiters wondering about his plans for the 2025-26 campaign. While at least one powerhouse college program had Zarubin earmarked as a could-be starter, there were concerns that he would struggle with classes due to the language barrier. The Youngstown Phantoms called his name in the USHL's draft this spring, but he has instead inked an extension at home. Flames fans should not view that as negative news, since Russia is the leading country for developing future crease stars. Some of the best puck-stoppers on the planet — guys like Igor Shesterkin and Andrei Vasilevskiy — honed their skills for multiple seasons in the MHL. Leonid Grishukevich, the goaltending coach for AKM Tula, had plenty of praise for Zarubin. In a text message conversation, he described him as an 'excellent student.' Listing off some of his strengths, he mentioned he 'perfectly copes with emotions,' 'understands and reads the game well' and 'fights to the end in every moment.' According to Grishukevich, who is originally from Belarus and spent one winter in the Alberta Junior Hockey League in the late-90s as the last-line-of-defence for the Olds Grizzlys, Zarubin likes to watch and study Mackenzie Blackwood of the Colorado Avalanche. As Grishukevich summarized: 'Kirill likes his tactics of the game, the use of his own size and the choice of positioning.' David Phillips, the chief goaltending scout for FC Hockey, tracked Zarubin through his draft season. In more recent video viewings, he has noticed some significant strides. Brent Dodginghorse, Willie O'Ree award winner, on importance of diversity and respect in sports Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf finishes second in Calder Trophy race 'When he was drafted by Calgary, I could see why they'd want a guy like him because of the raw talent and the size and the athleticism that he does have,' Phillips said. 'And then this year, I was very impressed with how much more refined he became. 'His footwork looks a lot better. His positioning was always quite good. And then he's done a good job of keeping his athleticism and contesting shots all over the ice with that athleticism by being able to just explode into a save.' Could he eventually explode on scene as a factor for the Flames? While some mystery remains, he's apparently motivated to do exactly that. 'It's his dream,' Sigalet said. 'He wants to come over here as soon as possible. He'd come today if we told him to come today. It just has to be the right situation.' wgilbertson@
National Post
05-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Now officially a finalist, why Calgary Flames believe Dustin Wolf deserves to win Calder Trophy
Calgary Flames rising-star netminder Dustin Wolf is up for one of the NHL's major awards. Article content Article content And likely not for the last time. Article content 'One of his next motivations will be to win a Vezina one day,' said Flames director of goaltending Jordan Sigalet. 'And I strongly believe that he will.' Article content Wolf was saluted Monday as a finalist for the Calder Trophy, the annual stick-tap to the NHL's best rookie. Article content Article content Also on the ballot are Montreal Canadiens blue-line ace Lane Hutson and San Jose Sharks standout centre Macklin Celebrini. Article content 'I think so,' Sigalet said. 'It's the toughest position in the game.' Article content 'Dustin was just so good at so many points in the season, and he gave us a chance to win so many games,' added Flames general manager Craig Conroy. 'I tip my hat to all those other guys — Hutson, Celebrini, (Matvei) Michkov. But Dustin is my guy and we're not where we were without him playing so well.' Article content The competitor that he is, Wolf is undoubtedly still stewing that the Flames missed the playoffs by a razor-thin margin, equalling an unlucky record for most points (96) by a squad that did not score a ticket to the spring dance. Article content Wolf, who turned 24 last month, constantly deflected questions throughout the season about the rookie-of-the-year race, always keen to steer the conversation back to team pursuits. He'll tell you that his only individual driver is to continue to silence anyone who ever suggested he was too small to succeed on the biggest stage. It's the same mindset that allowed him to rack up a long list of accolades during his ascent, including four consecutive nods as best-in-crease at a lower level — two in the WHL and two more in the AHL. Article content Article content 'I never talk about trophies with him,' said Sigalet, who pushed to draft Wolf with a seventh-round swing in 2019 and was oh-so-proud of the consistency he showed in his first full season in the NHL. 'If he wins or he gets recognized for something, I'll always text him. But you can just tell by the way he responds that he'd rather be playing. And it's genuine. It's nothing fabricated with him. He just wants to win. Article content Article content 'As much as you'd like this to be icing on the cake for him, he would give up any personal award to still be playing. Honestly, that's just the way he is. But to be on a team that had no expectations and be basically 20 seconds away from making the playoffs on the back of what he did? It's impressive.'
Calgary Herald
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Now officially a finalist, why Calgary Flames believe Dustin Wolf deserves to win Calder Trophy
Calgary Flames rising-star netminder Dustin Wolf is up for one of the NHL's major awards. Article content And likely not for the last time. Article content 'One of his next motivations will be to win a Vezina one day,' said Flames director of goaltending Jordan Sigalet. 'And I strongly believe that he will.' Article content Wolf was saluted Monday as a finalist for the Calder Trophy, the annual stick-tap to the NHL's best rookie. Article content 'I think so,' Sigalet said. 'It's the toughest position in the game.' Article content 'Dustin was just so good at so many points in the season, and he gave us a chance to win so many games,' added Flames general manager Craig Conroy. 'I tip my hat to all those other guys — Hutson, Celebrini, (Matvei) Michkov. But Dustin is my guy and we're not where we were without him playing so well.' Article content The competitor that he is, Wolf is undoubtedly still stewing that the Flames missed the playoffs by a razor-thin margin, equalling an unlucky record for most points (96) by a squad did not score a ticket to the spring dance. Article content Monday's shout-out won't offer much consolation. Article content Article content Wolf, who turned 24 last month, constantly deflected questions throughout the season about the rookie-of-the-year race, always keen to steer the conversation back to team pursuits. He'll tell you that his only individual driver is to continue to silence anyone who ever suggested he was too small to succeed on the biggest stage. It's the same mindset that allowed him to rack up a long list of accolades during his ascent, including four consecutive nods as best-in-crease at a lower level — two in the WHL and two more in the AHL. Article content Article content 'I never talk about trophies with him,' said Sigalet, who pushed to draft Wolf with a seventh-round swing in 2019 and was oh-so-proud of the consistency he showed in his first full season in the NHL. 'If he wins or he gets recognized for something, I'll always text him. But you can just tell by the way he responds that he'd rather be playing. And it's genuine. It's nothing fabricated with him. He just wants to win. Article content 'As much as you'd like this to be icing on the cake for him, he would give up any personal award to still be playing. Honestly, that's just the way he is. But to be on a team that had no expectations and be basically 20 seconds away from making the playoffs on the back of what he did? It's impressive.'
