Ivanov continued to establish himself as one of Columbus’ more interesting prospects heading into the 2025-26 season, going 13-11-2 with a 2.50 GAA and .928 save percentage in 29 KHL games with SKA St. Petersburg while also spending time in the VHL. His performance earned him a two-year entry-level contract with Columbus in July, with the Blue Jackets planning for him to remain in the KHL for the 2026-27 season before coming to North America. The 22-year-old now has 108 KHL appearances under his belt and owns a career .923 save percentage in the league.

Consistently putting up above a .900 SV% wherever he plays, Ivanov continues making the case he should get an opportunity in North America soon. Columbus is supportive of undersized goalies as well, so Ivanov’s chance to show he can be impactful at the NHL level is likely coming when his KHL contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 season. It will be interesting to see who gets the starting role for SKA St. Petersburg in 2025-26, as two taller and very talented goalies, Moysevich and Zavragin, compete for playing time alongside Ivanov.

Ivanov is a Russian goaltender who the Blue Jackets selected in the 5th round of the 2022 NHL Draft. His most significant question marks were size and nationality, as he is Russian and stands at just 5-11. However, he is very athletic and quick along the ice, covering the ground he can’t physically reach. His stats have been growing more and more impressive since being drafted, and he had a big coming-out this year. In the KHL with Admiral Vladivostok (the league’s worst team), he posted fantastic numbers of 0.928 SV% and 2.63 GAA. Ivanov appears to possess the skills to compensate for his physical downsides, but genuine question marks remain about whether he will make the jump to North America. In a pretty bare Columbus Blue Jackets goalie prospect cupboard, if he does make it over, Ivanov would be a big boon for the up-and-coming team.