Entering the draft board at No. 42 is our second goaltender of the ranking, Russian goaltender Pyotr Andreyanov.
Andreyanov is a fun goalie to watch, and is a complete contrast to the style and tools of projected first goalie off the board Joshua Ravensbergen. In comparison to Ravensbergen’s massive 6-foot-5 frame, Andreyanov stands at 6-foot, and relies less on his size and more on pure athleticism and positioning to make his saves. With that being said, it would not be shocking to see some teams view Andreyanov as the better goaltender of the two, depending on what a team likes in their goaltender. All the rave in the NHL right now seems to be with larger goaltenders, with Jusse Saros’ 5-foot-10 being an exception across the league among elite goalies.
Still, Andreyanov might be the ‘safer’ NHL projection, with Ravensbergen’s size giving him an ultimately higher NHL ceiling. It’s an interesting conversation to contrast the two, and it will be even more interesting to look back at in 5-6 years to see if teams got the order correct. So, let’s get into what could make a team really high on the upside of Pyotr Andreyanov.
Pre-draft rankings
No. 39 by The Athletic (Scott Wheeler)
No. 79 by Elite Prospects
No. 71 by TSN (Bob McKenzie)
No. 58 by Daily Faceoff
Bio
DOB: January 22, 2007
Birthplace: Volsk, Russia
Position: Goalie
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 207 lbs
Catches: Left
Statistics
What’s there to like?
Andreyanov’s U18 season in the MHL was nothing short of ridiculous, even in a league where save percentages are notoriously high. Among all-time 18 and under goaltending seasons in the league, Andreyanov’s .942 SV% slots him at a tie for best SV% ever. That’s undoubtedly impressive, and speaks to Andreyanov’s combination of positional smarts and athleticism.
Discussing Andreyanov’s positional smarts is a good way to start. Standing at a mere six foot tall, Andreyanov is quite small compared to the average starting goaltender in the NHL. It’s not a prohibitive height, but Andreyanov has had to rely on solid positioning thus far in his development to be an above-average goaltender in Russia. He’s an aggressive goaltender who looks to cut angles off from the shooter, either aggressively positioning himself in the crease or using an active stick to disrupt an incoming forward. While that can sometimes land him in trouble, Andreyanov has been able to play within himself enough to earn marks of being a positionally-sound prospect.
He’s earned really high marks for his post-to-post movement and play, with an ability to make athletic pad stops where he’s stretching across the entire crease. Andreyanov has a reputation as an extremely good puck tracker as well, fighting through screens and heavy traffic to make difficult stops with regularity. As a smaller goaltender, that ability to fight through traffic is going to be essential to his NHL success, if we think about the blueprint of goaltenders at his height (think: Nashville’s Jusse Saros). There’s a lot to like with the Russian goaltender, and there’s all the makings of either a tandem starter or a high-end backup here.
What’s not to like?
One thing that’s been mentioned with Andreyanov is his ability to find trouble in the times where he leaves his net. Apparently, in lots of games over in the MHL, Andreyanov would hold the puck for too long either behind his net or when he came out of his crease, as his indecision would often lead to turnovers and high-danger chances for the opposition. According to Elite Prospects, “he’s an adventurous one when he has a chance to play the puck away from the net”, but he’s usually able to recover and make saves in those situations. That’s still going to need to improve as he progresses in his development, as Andreyanov will be burned more in either the KHL or the NHL.
An example of his indecision is in the clip below, where it feels like Andreyanov holds onto the puck behind the net for a second too long and makes you nervous.
Some scouts have also noted that Andreyanov has a tendency to be beaten on the high blocker side, especially when he gets overcommitted to one of the posts. As mentioned previously, he clearly knows where he should be positioned in the net, and often is in the right spot, but he has a tendency to be overaggressive and overcommitted. If a goaltending coach and development staff can reel that aggression in just a bit, there’s a good chance that Andreyanov can become even more consistent at the next level.
How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?
Andreyanov would be yet another quality Russian/Belurusian goaltender to add into the organization. Over the last five or so years, the Flyers have had Aleksei Kolosov, Ivan Fedotov, Yegor Zavragin, and a few other lesser known prospects. Andreyanov would immediately be the highest drafted prospect of that group, if he is to go in the early third round or second round of this draft. And, from a wider organizational perspective, grabbing another goalie to keep the pipeline fresh behind Sam Ersson, Yegor Zavragin, and Carson Bjarnason is always a smart thing to do.
Could the Flyers actually get him?
Yes, and we’d say especially so considering the Flyers’ seven top-50 picks. There’s going to be legitimate conversations about a goaltender in this range, if the Flyers are looking to diversify the picks across various positions. Investing a higher second round pick in a goaltender isn’t a horrible idea, if the Flyers are really high on either Andreyanov, Ravensbergen, or even Jack Ivankovic. Also, Andreyanov and a few other Russian goaltenders (like Semyon Frolov) should be on fans’ radar as guys the Flyers might pick in the mid-rounds, considering the extensive Flyers scouting presence in Russia compared to other organizations.
What scouts are saying
“I believe there are a handful of legit goalie prospects in this draft, and Andreyanov is firmly No. 2 for me now. The 6-foot, 207-pound Russian might lack ideal height but he fills the net for his size and looks like a heavy, powerful goalie between his posts without his weight slowing down his footwork and mobility. He’s a strong, sound goalie with good hands and technical ability who tracks and anticipates well, competes and can stay square to swallow the first shot or go post-to-post to make more difficult saves. He’s got good hands, tracking and reflexes. He’s comfortable playing the puck. He had some big performances this season and looks like a stud to me. Andreyanov gave up more than three goals just twice this season: A 6-5 shootout win where he made 52 saves on 57 shots and a 4-3 playoff loss where he stopped 41 of 45. That’s remarkably consistent, even in the MHL, where save percentages tend to skew higher.”
Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
“Andreyanov is a stocky goaltender who takes up a good share of the net with his stature. He’s athletic but, at times, too active although he never quits on a puck and has the overall quickness required to recover and make saves.”
Jason Bukala, Sportsnet
“Pyotr Andreyanov is a poised, athletic goaltender with strong technical foundations and a calm presence in the crease. He tracks pucks exceptionally well, even through traffic and screens, and rarely looks rattled when facing sustained pressure. His lateral mobility stands out—he moves efficiently post-to-post and recovers quickly, allowing him to stay square and composed during broken plays.
Andreyanov’s rebound control is generally solid, limiting second-chance opportunities, and he displays a confident glove, particularly on low- and mid-danger shots. His use of the RVH is consistent when sealing off sharp-angle threats, though there’s room to refine when and how he employs it to avoid exposing small gaps. While his positioning is typically strong, occasional lapses in stance or timing on lateral pushes can leave him vulnerable, especially on quick plays around the net.
Overall, Andreyanov blends structure, athleticism, and mental focus in a way that makes him a compelling goaltending prospect. With continued development in his post play and consistency on quick-twitch reads, he projects as a potential starter with long-term upside.”
Josh Tessler, Smaht Scouting
Next up in the poll is USNTDP defenseman Charlie Tretheway, a right-handed blueliner who’s headed to Boston University next season.
“Trethewey had a productive U17 season with the NTDP. His draft season wasn’t as impressive but he was still an important player for USA. His offense took a major dive this season. In his underage season, I saw a player who picked apart defenses with his passing. This year, he looked like more of a basic first-pass type. Trethewey has a great shot, though, and is often a threat to score from the blue line. He’s not overly physical, but defends well enough due to his decent size and mobility. He lacks a clear identity for the NHL but is good enough at everything to have a real chance to play games.”
Corey Pronman, The Athletic
