Blue Jackets sign Sergei Ivanov to two-year, entry-level contract

The Columbus Blue Jackets have agreed to terms on a two-year, entry-level contract with goaltending prospect Sergei Ivanov, the club announced Wednesday afternoon.

Ivanov, 22, posted a 13-11-2 record, three shutouts, and a .928 save percentage in 29 games with KHL club SKA St. Petersburg during the 2025-26 regular season. He went 1-1 with one shutout and a .938 save percentage in two playoff games with the club.

The Blue Jackets originally selected Ivanov in the fifth round (No. 138 overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. The 6′, 176-pound goaltender is now under contract with the Blue Jackets for the next two seasons, although he is expected to remain in the KHL on loan in 2026-27.

“We are thrilled to sign Sergei to an entry-level contract,” Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said in a statement on Wednesday.  “He possesses great quickness and agility, along with sound positional play, and has performed exceptionally well as a very young goaltender in the KHL over the past four seasons.”

A product of Chernushka, Russia, Ivanov made his KHL debut with SKA in 2022-23 and appeared in eight games with the club over two seasons before being loaned to HK Sochi in 2024-25. With the new club, Ivanov managed a .928 save percentage while posting an 8-17-3 record and one shutout across 33 games played.

In 108 career KHL games across parts of four seasons split between SKA and HK Sochi, Ivanov has compiled a 34-50-8 record, eight shutouts, and a .923 save percentage. He’s also appeared in 23 games in the VHL, Russia’s second-tier professional league, going 7-13-3 with a .909 save percentage with SKA’s top affiliate.

The Blue Jackets now have five goaltenders under contract for the 2026-27 season: Elvis Merzlikins, Pheonix Copley, Nolan Lalonde, Evan Gardner, and Ivanov. Additionally, the Blue Jackets also have Jet Greaves, who is coming off a breakout season as the team’s starting goaltender and is due a new contract as a restricted free agent.