Flyers Prospect Among Best of His Generation; He Doesn’t Care

When the Philadelphia Flyers drafted Egor Zavragin 87th overall in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft, he was still a little-known Russian goalie prospect toiling away in the MHL, Russia’s junior hockey league. After only one year, at just 18 years old, Zavragin was a dominant force in both the MHL and the VHL, Russia’s minor hockey league.

Some consider the Flyers prospect to be one of the best of his generation. To Zavragin, that doesn’t mean anything.

“How do you feel about being called the most promising goalkeeper of the generation on the Internet?” MatchTV’s Alexander Rogulev asked Zavragin in a recent interview. The calculated, stoic goaltender blew the praise off. There’s more work to do.

“Yes, I have nothing to add. You can say a lot, but to show in practice is different. I myself don’t think so if you need my opinion,” Zavragin replied, loosely translated from Russian. “They write and write, what’s the difference? It definitely doesn’t put pressure on me.”

Zavragin also shared that he went to a boarding school in Khanty a few years ago, detailing his commitment to self-improvement.

“Yes, it’s not bad,” the Flyers starlet said of his experience. And when I reached the level of MHL, I lived in a hotel. In childhood, some conditions—entertainment, and there was no time for this—were especially needed. Training, study, and five hours of free time in the evening. You go, you rest.”

The Flyers are also apparently keeping contact with the representatives of their prized goalie prospect, though not directly with Zavragin himself. That’s not really a concern, though, as Zavragin is still very young within the context of an NHL timeline. Most goalies won’t break through until they’re 23 or 24 years old, and sometimes even later than that.

Plus, Zavragin’s contract extension will keep him under the guise of SKA St. Petersburg for a few more years.

“Mostly, the agent and his assistants do this; they are in touch. I personally do not climb into it, my business is to play and train, to prepare for a performance in the KHL,” Zavragin said. “With NHL, I don’t want to guess at all. How it turns out, it will turn out. In due time everything will be visible. Anyway, you will need to consult with everyone: both with the agent and with the trainers, and with parents. If I once go there, it will be a very thoughtful and balanced decision.”

Before his NHL journey with the Flyers begins, Zavragin will first start in the KHL, starting this season, with HK Sochi.