Flames Top 25 Under 25: #21 – Artyom Zagidulin

#21 – Artyom Zagidulin

Position: Goaltender

Age: 24 (as of August 1 2020)

2019-20 Team: Stockton Heat (AHL)

2020-21 Team: Magnitogorsk Metallurg (KHL) – LOAN

Signed April 9 2019

Last Year Ranking: #20

Zagidulin Votes

We’re now on to our second goalie of the Top 25 in Flames prospect Artyom Zagidulin (aka Big Snag Zag). Goalies are some of the hardest prospects to judge because they develop at different rates than other skaters and usually different than other goalies as well.

The Russian goalie spent last season in the AHL with the Stockton Heat and had an overall decent season with a 16-7-4 record as part of a three headed goalie situation. Zag shared minutes with Jon Gillies and Nick Schneider (only played one game) and was record-wise the better goalie for the Flames affiliate. He would finish 2019-20 with a .898 Save% and a 3.07 GAA and he’s going to get the chance to helm the Heat in 2020-21. Barring any sort of trade with David Rittich, you’d think the Flames would have Zagidulin and possibly Louis Domingue manning the crease when the AHL season starts. Free agent keeper Jon Gillies leaving for St. Louis really opened up the door for Big Snag Zag to get a shot to show Calgary if he’s in the Flames future. David Rittich only has one year left on his current contract, but Artyom is looking at 6 years of Jacob Markstrom ahead of him Calgary and there’s going to be some pressure behind him as well. Tyler Parsons will be looking to have a rebound year to get back on track and Dustin Wolf is absolutely killing it in the pipes as well. With that said, both of those guys are a long way away from NHL ready so 2020-21 is Zagidulin’s showcase to prove he could be NHL ready by 2021-22 as Markstrom’s backup.

The 25 year old is currently overseas playing with his KHL team Magnitogorsk Metallurg where he has played in three games as of this profile being written. He’s 1-2-0 and has an .862 Save% and a 4.52 GAA, having given up 12 goals on 75 shots. Not exactly the best start for a player looking to show the Flames he’s NHL material, but it’s such a small sample size that there’s plenty of time for that to change.

by Michael MacGillivray