If you’re a Caps fan, breathe easy. Not your guy. It’s the other one…
The Columbus Blue Jackets have hired Niklas Backstrom as the newest goaltender coach, replacing the dismissed Manny Legace.
Backstrom, 45, is a retired Finnish netminder that played in the show with the Minnesota Wild and Calgary Flames. He also played internationally for his country and in the LIGA.
He has the most wins as a Minnesota goaltender; and is a silver and bronze Olympic medalist.
Since retirement, he has served as a European scout and goalie coach for the Blue Jackets. This is an internal move, and keeps an NHL veteran working with the goalies in Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov, the projected tandem.
Player Profile - Sergei Ivanov
To keep up with the recent trend of the 2022 draft series I have been releasing, and the announcement of the new Columbus goalie coach, this is the Russian goalie they acquired in the 5th round.
Sergei Ivanov, 19, is being developed by the top dogs in Russia with SKA St Petersburg. In a limited showing with the top roster of the KHL, he has a 0.957 save percentage in 5 games with a goals against of 1.12. With the VHL, he had a 0.900 in 16 games. In the MHL, he had a 0.935 in 6 games. In the playoffs , he had 0.928 in the VHL; and a 0.949 save percentage with a 1.6GAA in the MHL playoffs.
He could be a Russian backup, but with the way they develop, maybe a starter?