It's been a long time since the New Jersey Devils had multiple prospects worth talking about, but they might have struck gold with 2024 second-round pick Mikhail Yegorov, a young goalie now starring in the NCAA for Boston University under ex-Devils forward and head coach Jay Pandolfo.
Yegorov, 19, joined the Terriers halfway through the 2024-25 season, erupting for an 11-6-1 record, a .927 save percentage, and a shutout in 18 appearances.
It was a big jump for the rising Russian prospect, who was previously stuck on the lowly Omaha Lancers in the NHL, winning just 11 of 62 games across two seasons.
Now, though, Yegorov has performed so admirably that he's shot up the rankings of young goalies around the NHL, including in the eyes of Daily Faceoff prospect expert Steven Ellis.
Ellis ranked Yegorov fourth on his list of the top 25 goalie prospects right now, trailing only Yaroslav Askarov (1), Jacob Fowler (2), and Trey Augustine (3). Yegorov is the only teenager in the top five.
"Yegorov had an incredible glow-up last season. He was one of my favorite goalies in the 2024 NHL Draft but didn’t have the stats to back it up. That’s because he had to do so much heavy lifting for Omaha of the USHL, whom he eventually left halfway through the year. He then put up some outstanding performances at Boston University, with many crediting him for being one of the biggest reasons why BU advanced to the national title game," Ellis wrote.
Experts have high hopes for New Jersey Devils prospect Mikhail Yegorov
"The 6-foot-5 goaltender has a great frame, and scouts love his mental toughness. Watch him shine next year in his first full year of college hockey – I see a guy with the potential to become a No. 1 goaltender one day."
It's big praise for the 19-year-old, especially considering the Devils haven't had a promising goalie prospect since the Mackenzie Blackwood days. That is, unless you want to count the brief but enjoyable Akira Schmid purple patch.
Plus, the future of Nico Daws is increasingly murky after the Devils re-signed Jake Allen this offseason.
With Yegorov taking like a fish to water to his new environment in the NCAA, it would appear the Devils indeed have a true contender to be their No. 1 goalie of the future.