Phantoms Focus: Goalie Depth

The Flyers and Phantoms blogs on Hockey Hot Stove are powered by Phans of Philly, Liberty Valuation Group,  New Balance of Mount Laurel, The Mens and Boys Store, Carl’s Cards and Collectibles, Team Toyota, Brian Propp’s Guffaw Cigars, Summit Public Adjusters, Marat Ioshpa’s State Farm Insurance agency and our newest sponsor, Joe Rivera of Coldwell Banker Realty.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms had significant roster turnover during the 2026 off-season. However, the team has run back the most important element for any club at any level: the goalies.

Nowadays, teams need three — not just two — reliable goaltenders on their depth charts. That’s every bit as true in the American Hockey League (perhaps even more so) as it is in the NHL. Injuries and recalls are a fact of life most every season.

Goaltending could make or break the Phantoms fortunes in 2026-27. Alas, it’s hard to predict whether goalie play will be a strength or weakness. The top two goalies on the depth chart both have inconsistent track records in their young careers. Meanwhile, the team’s third option showed promise in AHL spot duty. However, he’ unproven in a larger role.

As the Phantoms roster continues its evolution, the question persists: Have they truly done enough to improve if the goalie play is comparable to last season?

Phantoms No. 1 option: Alexei Kolosov (Age 24)

After two-plus seasons in North America, the Belarusian goaltender has reached the-make-or-break stage of his stay in the organization. He’s shown period flashes of brilliance. He’s also been prone to ill-timed meltdowns.

Kolosov is a very athletic goaltender. He moves quite well laterally. Meanwhile, he pulls off some highlight reel saves. Kolosov seems to have finally accepted the reality that he has to work his way into another NHL opportunity. He clearly wasn’t ready for his first trial in 2024-25. There were more struggles than highlights.

On the bright side, Kolosov made some progress in 2025-26. He also seemed a bit more mentally resilient. Kolosov endured an NHL start in which he didn’t make a single save (three goals allowed on three shots) before he made a quick exit. It didn’t break him, however, so that’s a positive.

Statistically, Kolosov posted a 15-21-2 record, .895 save percentage (an improvement from his rookie .884 mark) and 2.98 goals against average. Most of his top performances came in the first half of the season. Therefore, it’s hard to state confidently that he trended the right way in Year 2. However, in fairness, the same description applied to the entire team.

Kolosov is on the smaller side (generously listed at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds) for a contemporary goaltender. He sometimes gives away too much net and makes incorrect reads. However, he showed improvement this past season.

Off the ice, Kolosov has gradually become more engaged with his teammates. He still has a significant language barrier but he no longer seems miserable to live and play far from home.

Taken on the whole, Kolosov did make progress over the last year. He turns 25 on January 4.

Carson Bjarnason (Age 21)

The 2023 second-round pick (51st) overall just turned 21 this off-season. Keep that in mind. Goaltenders tend to mature later than players at any other position. Bjarnason’s career is still essentially in its infancy. Don’t get too low — or too high — on flashes of brilliance or periods of struggle. Inconsistency is the norm for most young goaltenders.

Big and athletic (6-foot-4, 207 pounds), there personable Brandon Wheat Kings netminder had an interesting trajectory to his pro year. Bjarnason had a so-so preseason but a strong start to the regular season. Early on, he seemed to be ahead of the curve.

Unfortuately, the former Canadian junior national team netminder hit a wall as the season progressed. Bjarnason hit a very rough patch. coinciding with a team-wide downturn. Ultimately, he dropped down one level of play and appeared in two ECHL games for the Reading Royals.

A quick word about the ECHL: The same rules of thumb for position players do not necessarily apply for goaltenders. The ECHL lacks the defensive structure and predictability of the AHL, much less the NHL. However, ECHL attackers are still pros, and many shoot the puck just as well as players at higher levels. Do not assume that talent or draft position alone mean the goalie prospect “ought to dominate” the ECHL. That’s not necessarily the case. For example, future NHL star Jonathan Quick was solid — but not dominant — with the Reading Royals.

Option 3: Yaniv Perets (age 26)

The organization signed Perets to an AHL contract last year. The Quebec native fared well in five games for the Phantoms last season, even as the club struggled. Meanwhile, the netminder had a strong ECHL campaign for Reading in 27 games (14-8-4, 2.84 GAA, .910 save percentage). Perets is roughly the same size as Kolosov.

Most of Perets’ pro career to date has been spent in the ECHL. However, he has two NHL mop-up appearances to his credit during his time in the Carolina Hurricanes’ organization.

In either Kolosov or Bjarnason falters, Perets may be the first call up from Reading.

Further depth: Keith Petruzzelli (age 27)

Petruzzelli has bounced back and forth between the AHL and ECHL over the span of his five-season professional career. He enjoyed a strong ECHL campaign for the Royals in 2025-26. The 6-foot-5 goalie appeared in 39 games, posting a 2.59 GAA and .912 save percentage despite a middling 17-16-6 record.

The previous season, Petruzzelli appeared in six AHL games. He performed competently, winning three. Petruzzelli and Perets will be Reading’s goalie tandem, barring injury. However, Perets seemed to be the preferred callup option for the Phantoms right now if needed.

Phantoms prospect pipeline

The Phantoms have three highly regarded European goaltenders in the prospect pipeline. None are currently under NHL entry-level contract. However, all three have the potential to eventually make it to the NHL.

Yegor Zavragin (2023 third-round pick)

The Flyers are very high on the young Russian goaltender. He’s been outstanding at the Russian junior (MHL), pro minor league (VHL) and top pro (KHL) levels so far. Zavragin, who recently turned 21, will play at least one more season at home before coming to North America.

Martin Psohlavec (2026 2nd‑Round Pick)

The Flyers selected the tall (6-foot-5) Czech hybrid neminder 62nd overall in the 2026 Draft. He’s come to North America to join the Western Hockey League’s Saskatoon Blades for the 2026-27 season. First, however, he will attend Flyers Rookie Camp. Camp opens on September 11 at PPL Center in Allentown.

Marek Sklenička (2026 4th‑Round Pick)

Drafted 120th overall, Sklenička is another large, athletic Czech goaltender. The 6-foot-4 netminder played 42 games for the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds last season (3.21 GAA, .902 SV%, three shutouts). He, too, will attend Flyers Rookie Camp.

No such thing as too much goalie depth

Goaltending prospect depth is an invaluable asset for any organization. Goaltender development paths are wildy unpredictable. In terms of immediate expectations, however, the Phantoms roster battle expectation is straightforward.

• Kolosov and Bjarnason battle for the Phantoms’ No. 1 job.
• Perets and Petruzzelli push for the upper hand as the first callup.
• The three Europeans gain experience and aim to move up the organizational depth chart.