Photo credit: Journal de Montreal
A new goaltender has just entered the picture for the future of the Montreal Canadiens in goal.
Yevgeni Volokhin has just sent a strong message to Canadiens management with another dominant performance in his most recent game.
We often talk about Jacob Fowler, but it may be time to shine the spotlight a bit more on the organization’s other masked gem.
What is happening with Volokhin right now is special.
The 20-year-old goaltender is absolutely dominating the VHL, the second tier of hockey directly under the KHL in the Russian hockey system.
A 29-save performance on 30 shots in a 4–1 win over HC Rostov.
He also had an incredible 41-save shutout that left opposing forwards completely helpless the game before.
“With a 41-save shutout over the weekend, the 20-year-old lowered his save percentage to .946 in 27 games. Among all goaltenders who have played at least 15 games so far, he ranks first in the league in that category.”
– TVA Sports
These performances have pushed his statistics to an almost historic level, worthy of comparisons to Ilya Sorokin and Igor Shesterkin.
The Canadiens’ fifth-round pick (144th overall) in 2023 now boasts a .948 save percentage in 29 games.
That is simply the best performance in the entire league among goaltenders with a regular workload.
His goals-against average sits at 1.46.
The sudden emergence of Yevgeni Volokhin changes the game in Montreal
Fans worried about depth in goal can sleep easy: the next wave is here.
Over his last 19 appearances with Khimik Voskresensk, Volokhin has allowed just 22 goals.
This dominance even earned him a call-up to the big league, the KHL, with Spartak Moscow earlier this season.
It’s worth remembering that the young netminder attended the development camp in Brossard last July.
He appears to have taken that experience seriously to elevate his game to another level.
With 19 wins to his name, he’s not just stopping pucks — he’s winning games for his club.
Kent Hughes may have quietly landed a steal in the 2023 draft.
The future goalie battle within the Canadiens organization is shaping up to be fascinating.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
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Canadiens goalie prospect Yevgeni Volokhin emerging as a major Kent Hughes win amid a phenomenal season
Does Yevgeni Volokhin have the potential to shake things up against Jacob Fowler?