FN’s mid-season Flames prospect updates: Arsenii Sergeev

The Calgary Flames have drafted numerous Russian goaltenders over the past six drafts.

It all started when they selected Daniil Chechelev in the fourth round of the 2020 draft. Most recently, they drafted Kirill Zarubin in the third round of the 2024 draft, as well as Yegor Yegorov in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. Both Yegorov and Zarubin play in Russia’s junior league, while Chechelev tried his hand for two seasons in North America before returning to Russia to play in their minor leagues.

Only one of the four Russian netminders the Flames drafted in the last six drafts is currently in North America, Arsenii Sergeev. Drafted in the seventh-round of the 2021 draft, Sergeev was born in Yaroslavl, but played parts of his junior hockey in the United States. In 2019-20 he played in the North American Hockey League (tier two), NCDC, and United States Hockey League. After a strong performance in the NAHL in 2020-21 to help the Shreveport Mudbugs win the league’s trophy, the Flames drafted him with their final pick in that year’s draft.

The 23-year-old played one full season in the USHL, finishing the season with a .918 save percentage and 2.08 goals against average in 41 games with the Tri-City Storm. Following that season, Sergeev played two seasons with UConn, posting a .912 save percentage in 20 games in 2022-23 and a .913 save percentage in 16 games in 2023-24.

Looking for more playing time, Sergeev joined Big 10’s Penn State Nittany Lions, instantly becoming their starter. He missed some time with injury, and the Nittany Lions began the season going 0-7-2 in their conference (Sergeev was 0-4-0). Upon Sergeev’s return, they finished 12-3 against teams in their conference, as Sergeev finished with a .919 save percentage and 2.54 goals against average.

Well, that save percentage and goals against average also include the national tournament. In the best of three against Michigan, Sergeev stopped 52 of 59 shots, but had a .939 save percentage in the series clinching game. Unfortunately, they fell to Ohio State in the semifinals of their end-of-season tournament. Regardless, they got an invite to the national tournament.

In a 5-1 win over Maine, Sergeev stopped 26 of 27 shots (.963 save percentage), then 42 of 44 shots (.955 save percentage) against UConn to drag the Nittany Lions to their first ever Frozen Four. Against Boston University, Sergeev stopped 30 of 32 shots (.938 save percentage), but they scored once in a 3-1 defeat.

Shortly after Penn State was eliminated, Sergeev signed his entry-level contract, turning professional. Beginning his season with the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush, the 23-year-old had a .922 save percentage and 2.94 goals against average in 12 games, earning a spot in the All-Star Game. His numbers haven’t been as strong with the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers, where he has an .897 save percentage and 3.23 goals against average in 13 games.

He’s run into a bit of trouble as of late, but there’s still hope that the Russian netminder could eventually serve as Dustin Wolf’s backup in a few seasons. The first step will be to start playing better at the AHL level.