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The Arizona Coyotes' biggest strength is their goaltending. Darcy Kuemper and Antti Raanta have not had the best luck with injuries, but when they are healthy they are some of the best. Adin Hill seems ready to transition to NHL backup in the coming seasons. And right behind Hill is the Coyotes' best goaltending prospect, Ivan Prosvetov.
19/20 League: ECHL (Rapid City Rush) / AHL (Tucson Roadrunners)
Games played: 5/27
Goals against average: 2.40/2.88
Save percentage: .930/.909
Highest rating: 15
Lowest rating: 17
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the Moskva, Russia native has fast become a key prospect for the Coyotes. After a single season in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit, which saw him named to the Third All-Star Team, he made the leap to professional hockey this past season.
Prosvetov started the season in the ECHL with the Rapid City Rush, but he was soon brought up to the Tucson Roadrunners. He wasn't the Roadrunner's starter, that was still Adin Hill, but it typically takes longer for goaltenders to develop and him even being there is a great sign.
The Russian netminder earned praise from Corey Pronman in his organizational rankings. He was the only goaltender eligible for the list with Pronman noting:
He can make unique saves with consistency, which at his size gets NHL scouts excited. His puck-tracking has gotten a lot better and he made pro-level reads, leading me to think he could be an NHL goaltender.
Clearly, his season impressed the Coyotes' front office. Prosvetov earned a brief call-up, but he didn't see any NHL ice. And while he didn't make it to the playoffs, he did remain in a bubble in Arizona in case he needed to travel to the Edmonton bubble.
These next few seasons season is going to be big for the Coyotes' goaltending in general and especially for Prosvetov. This is the last season of Antti Raanta's contract and given his history with injuries the team may trade him at the deadline to get an asset back. Adin Hill is third in line, and he could be serving as the Coyotes' backup in the near future. If Hill does move up then the Roadrunner's crease is Prosvetov and he will be the first player called up.
Prosvetov probably has a few more seasons in the AHL before he is ready for the NHL but the progress he has made so far is great to see. Goaltending has always been key for the Coyotes, and the team has worked to make sure that says a strength in the future.