Update on Habs Goaltending Prospects

The first goaltender we will talk about is the Montreal Canadiens’ 3rd round pick in the most recent 2025 NHL Entry Draft, Arseni Radkov. Playing with the Boisbriand-Blainville Armada of the QJMHL right in the Habs’ backyard, he is the prospect outside the organization currently that’s the most accessible for fans to watch in Montreal. Radkov is currently serving as the starting goaltender for the Armada, in what has been his first year playing in North America.

In 10 games so far this year, Radkov has a 5-3-2 record with a 3.57 GAA and 0.890 save percentage through 10 games. Overall, his game has been a mixed bag as he has had his struggles adapting to the North American game at times. In fact, his worst game so far with the Armada may be his last one, as the Armada lost 6-1, where he finished the night with an .824 save percentage. During his 10 games, he has yet to allow fewer than 2 goals. It’s only been a month since his season started, but it’s evident that he’s definitely had his challenges playing a new league so far. Hopefully, he can settle down and be a better goalie as the season goes along.

However, compared to prospect Mikus Vecvanags, Radkov has been doing relatively well in QJMHL. Vecvanags seems to have been relegated to the 3rd goaltender spot on the newest QMJHL franchise, the Newfoundland Regiment, after putting up a lowly .831 save percentage and 4.09 GAA in 4 games so far this year. Despite his rough stats, he still has a winning record, going 2-1 for the Regiment. Among the Habs’ goaltending prospects, Vecvanags may be the weakest of all. While it’s not looking great for his future with the organization, when it comes to goaltenders, anything can happen.

Next, let’s go over to arguably the 2nd-best goaltender prospect in the organization behind Jacob Fowler, in Yevgeni Volokhin, who has been splitting his time between both the KHL and VHL with the Sparta Moskva organization. As of Monday, October 27th, Volokhin has only played two games in the KHL for Sparta, where he has an .892 save percentage and 2.41 GAA with a 1-0-0 record. Currently, due to being among the youngest goaltenders in the organization, he is stuck playing in the VHL full-time. Volokhin has played 13 games for the Khimik Voskresensk, where he has posted a remarkable .936 save percentage and 1.77 GAA with an 8-4-1 record. It may not be in the KHL, but Volokhin is having a great season so far, which will hopefully continue to play well as he moves up the ranks of Russian hockey.

The Montreal Canadiens’ 4th round pick in 2023, Quentin Miller, has moved over from the QMJHL to the NCAA with the University of Denver for this season, and has been among the top goaltenders in the NCAA thus far. Through 4 games with the Denver Pioneers, Miller has posted a .945 save percentage and 1.23 GAA, while having a 2-1-1 record so far.

Both goaltenders Alexis Cournoyer (Cornell) and Emmett Croteau (Dartmouth) have yet to start their NCAA seasons, but both should start their hockey seasons later this upcoming weekend.

Among those goaltenders who have played in junior hockey, Europe or college hockey so far this season, only Volokhin and Miller seem to be playing really well. It will be interesting to see how these goalies progress over the next few months.