Philadelphia Flyers goaltending prospect Egor Zavragin has won the VHL’s Rookie of the Year award after a dominant season with Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk.
Zavragin, a third-round pick by the Flyers in 2023, appeared in 17 games for Yugra, going 13-1-0 with a .943 save percentage, 1.60 goals against average, and three shutouts in Russia’s second-tier men’s league. His save percentage was tied with SKA-Neva St. Petersburg’s Artemi Pleshkov for the league lead.
Yugra made it all the way to the semifinals of the Petrov Cup Playoffs, falling to AKM Tula Region in five games, 4-1. Zavragin made 47 saves on 48 shots in Yugra’s only win in the series and appeared in eight playoff games total, going 4-4 with a .933 SV% and 2.11 GAA.
After his impressive season, Zavragin will make his first foray into the Kontinental Hockey League next year. He was traded to SKA St. Petersburg and will be playing with HK Sochi on loan to garner experience after signing a three-year contract.
“I think it’s no secret that I will start the season in Sochi,” said Zavragin in an interview with Match TV. “With all due respect to Ugra, this is already an opportunity to play at the KHL level. Sooner or later, I had to take a step forward from Khanty-Mansiysk. And if such an opportunity presents itself now, it is stupid to refuse. Yes, I could have stewed in the VHL for another year, but for my own development, it’s better to take a step sooner rather than later.”
After nothing but domination in the MHL with Mamonty Yugry and in the VHL with Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk, with an award to show for it now, the 18-year-old Zavragin will look to keep his development on track in Russia’s top league.
