Egor Zavragin: “Playing in the MHL Was Even Tougher Than in the KHL”

At just 16 years old, Egor Zavragin showcased his potential by playing a full regular season for “Mamonty Yugry” and securing 21 victories in 31 matches. After a less consistent subsequent season, he made a significant breakthrough in the 2023/2024 championship: suffering only one loss in 17 VHL games, boasting an impressive 94.3% save percentage and a 1.6 goals-against average, which earned him the title of best rookie of the season. His talent did not go unnoticed, and Zavragin was invited to SKA. Although his path to the main team was not direct – initially on loan to “Sochi” before returning in October 2024 – his adaptation was instant. Debuting just three days after his arrival, he achieved six consecutive wins and was recognized as the KHL`s best rookie of the month.

Zavragin quickly established himself as SKA`s primary goaltender, participating in 37 out of 55 regular season matches and starting in the playoffs. Although the “Army men” were eliminated in the first round, Egor`s season wasn`t over: he joined the youth team SKA-1946, where he helped them defeat “Loko” without a single loss, then overcome “Omskie Yastreby” (Omsk Hawks), and push the final series against “Spartak” to a decisive seventh game.

Youth – An Advantage for SKA Goalies

— How did you celebrate your birthday?
— In a calm setting. We had a day off during training camp, so I slept well, spent the whole day responding to birthday wishes, had lunch with a friend, and then returned to the base.

— When was the last time you truly celebrated this holiday?
— I can`t recall doing so in my conscious adult life. Only as a child, and even then, we usually moved the celebration to the weekends. Most often, August 23rd coincides with some preseason tournament match.

— Have you always won on your birthday?
— No, there have been losses too.

— Where did you rest during the offseason?
— After recovering from all my minor injuries, I flew with my parents to Dubai for a week. It wasn`t particularly hot there this year, so I really enjoyed the rest. Upon returning, I rested a bit at home in Novosibirsk and then started preparing for training camp. By the end of July, I was already in Saint Petersburg.

— What did you work on this summer?< — I skated in my hometown Novosibirsk with the coach who trains me every summer. We held a small training camp, during which we worked on all aspects of the game.

— Did Igor Larionov speak with you personally?
— He called all the SKA players. He called me when I was in Dubai. Larionov asked how I was doing, what I was up to, and when I would start training, and also outlined what to expect at training camp and during the season.

— Were you concerned that your position might be jeopardized after the change in coaching staff and management?
— No, I always believe you have to prove everything through hard work. I don`t have any other criteria.

— How did you feel about Sergei Ivanov returning to SKA, with whom you shared goaltending duties in Sochi?
— We have an excellent relationship; our goalie brigade is very friendly. After practices, I often play backgammon with Sergei Ivanov.

— Who wins more often?
— I do, of course.

— Is having the youngest goaltending team in the KHL an advantage or a disadvantage?
— Definitely an advantage, because at such a young age, we have the opportunity to develop and progress in Russia`s top league. Experience certainly plays an important role. For instance, in “Yugra,” I played with the very experienced Vladimir Sokhatsky, who gave me a lot of advice.

— Does the example of Ilya Nabokov, who won the Gagarin Cup, motivate you?
— Of course, Ilya is an example for many young goaltenders. However, when he was leading “Metallurg” to the championship, I was still playing in “Yugra” and wasn`t following the KHL very closely.

“I was giving DeAngelo tips, but I`m not sure he heard me”

— Tell us about your move from Yugra to SKA.
— After we were eliminated from the playoffs, our general manager, Sergei Vladimirovich Gusev, approached me and said: “SKA is interested in you. It`s up to you; everything depends on your decision. Whatever you say, that`s what will happen. If you want, you can stay with us.” My parents, agent, and I weighed all the options, and I decided to move to SKA with a subsequent loan to “Sochi.” I didn`t think about the offer for too long.

— Was it difficult to concentrate on hockey in Sochi after the cold climates of Novosibirsk and Khanty-Mansiysk?
— No, it didn`t distract me at all. I had very little free time to go anywhere other than the arena. I just remember that it was very warm both outside and inside the arena.

— Was your return to SKA chaotic?
— It was quite challenging to debut in the third period of the very first game immediately after moving to Saint Petersburg. Everything happened very suddenly and quickly; I didn`t even fully grasp what was going on. Moreover, SKA`s roster is full of star players, so at first, there was a slight sense of surprise that we were training and playing together. But I quickly integrated into the team through the games.

— What helped you start your SKA career with six consecutive wins?
— We were on a roll, which is why we were winning. It didn`t make me feel overly confident; I just focused on playing my best hockey in every game and helping the team win.

— Which victory particularly stands out from that season?
— Definitely the game against “Sibir,” when for the first time in my career, I played a “shutout” for the entire match, including overtime and a shootout. Novosibirsk always has an insane atmosphere; I remember that from childhood. My parents and all my friends came to the stands. That game really stuck with me. I`d also highlight the Army derby because of its intensity, and matches against “Spartak” in Moscow due to their fans. It was especially gratifying to play and win when the entire stadium was loudly cheering against you.

— Was it difficult for you to adapt to SKA`s style and opponents` constant counter-attacks?
— Yes, it wasn`t easy, but I gradually got used to that kind of pressure. My job was simply to play reliably and give the team a chance to win.

— How is your communication with foreign defensemen?
— I know a few phrases that are enough for communication on the ice. Last season, I even gave Tony DeAngelo some tips, though I`m not sure he heard me.

— Were you physically and emotionally ready for the role of the KHL team`s number one goaltender at 19?
— Generally, yes, but some things still didn`t quite work out. I can`t be entirely satisfied with my play, but I`ll keep those nuances to myself.

— Who and what stood out to you most last season?
— Evgeny Kuznetsov had an excellent vision of the ice; he could look one way and make a pass in a completely different direction. Maxim Shabanov also stood out. Overall, this list could go on for a long time, as every team has leaders with their own strengths.

— Did you feel a different level of responsibility in elimination games?
— No, I`ve approached all games calmly since my MHL days. Nothing fundamentally changes in the playoffs: the game still lasts 60 minutes, the puck is the same, and you still have to stop it. There`s no other option. So, I didn`t get stressed out during the playoffs.

“Playing in the MHL was even tougher for me than in the KHL”

— Tell us about the MHL playoffs.
— After SKA concluded their season, the youth team was playing in the first round against “Krasnaya Armiya.” After that series, goaltending coach Yuri Klyuchnikov told me I was going to SKA-1946. I gladly joined the guys. The main team had exited the playoffs too early, but it gave me a good opportunity to compete for the Kharlamov Cup.

— Did you adapt quickly?
— No, it was quite difficult. As strange as it may sound, the speeds in the MHL are sometimes even higher than in the KHL. Everyone is constantly rushing, and sometimes you simply can`t figure out what a player intends to do. It was tough playing against opponents with such direct, aggressive hockey. Playing in the MHL was even harder for me than in the KHL. I had gotten used to one level, but in the playoffs, I had to quickly adjust to another.

— Is SKA-1946`s playing style opposite to that of Mamonty Yugry?
— One hundred percent. “Mamonty Yugry” didn`t play such a pronounced defensive hockey as we do now. Everything changed after the coaching staff was replaced.

— Do you consider defensive hockey in the MHL inappropriate?
— No. It all depends on the coach`s vision; if their playing system brings results to the team, then it`s fine.

— What helped SKA-1946 sweep Loko in the second round?
— The player selection. We were simply a very strong team. But I can`t say that SKA-1946 easily overcame “Loko.”

— Why was it noticeably harder against Omskie Yastreby (Omsk Hawks)?
— In the semifinals, we faced very experienced opponents who could make subtle passes. After we squandered a victory at the end of the fifth game, everyone understood that we were flying to Omsk to win.

— When you played for “Mamonty,” was there discussion about the difference between Western and Eastern conference teams?
— Yes, everyone talked about it and continues to do so. If two Western Conference teams met in the Kharlamov Cup final, I think further arguments are unnecessary.

— Was it tough to miss the first three games of the final?
— I took it calmly. We just needed to take the final steps towards the championship, and my role was simply to support the guys. In the finals, there was no time for disappointment.

— Were your nerves getting to you when you came in as a substitute in Game 4 of the series?
— No. With the series score at 0-3, there wasn`t much pressure on me. I came back to win. That first victory gave everyone a certain boost. The guys believed in each other again and got adjusted, that things would only get better from there.

— Were you surprised by the atmosphere at the Kharlamov Cup final games?
— Of course, the atmosphere was absolutely amazing! These are truly memorable events for junior hockey. It`s great when so many fans come to MHL games. You don`t see that often.

— Why were you substituted during the second intermission of Game 7 of the final?
— Physically, the finals were very tough: I sustained several injuries throughout the series. When the first goal was conceded in Game 7, I felt a pain that only intensified. I knew I would finish the second period, but it was unlikely I`d be able to return to the ice due to the injury. During the second intermission in the locker room, the pain became unbearable, so I couldn`t continue the game. It was incredibly frustrating to leave the team at such a decisive moment. After the game, I was more upset not about finishing second or the loss, but about not being able to help SKA-1946 until the very end.

— Did it take you long to get over the finals?
— The next day, I woke up feeling as if nothing had happened. A day later, it was noticeable that the guys were actively trying to forget that series. Now, everyone talks calmly about the past final.

— Is the level of comfort at SKA different compared to the cities where you played before?
— Yes, the conditions here are simply incredible! It`s very comfortable at SKA; there`s absolutely everything a hockey player could need. I have something to compare it to. At SKA-1946, I noticed many advantages that weren`t present at “Mamonty Yugry.” There`s always a buffet, ready-to-use equipment, sticks, and much more. Everything at SKA is done at the highest level. All players who have come from other teams remark on the insane level of organization here.

— How do you spend your free time?
— It depends on the current situation. During the season, I usually just try to get some sleep or go for a walk. In the summer, I spend time with my family. I also enjoy playing PUBG on my tablet. I play with my brother, and with guys from SKA-1946 or “Mamonty Yugry.” I remember during the quarantine season, I was on a team with Dmitry Yudin and Andrei Pedan, whom I later met again at SKA. A friend of mine from “Yugra” was very good at PUBG and knew many hockey players who enjoyed it. Last season, I once asked Yudin and Pedan: “Did you know I used to play PUBG with you?” (laughs). They were quite surprised.

— Do you have any rituals?
— Yes, I have a few. I consider myself a rather quiet goaltender, but on game day, I don`t isolate myself from the entire team, as some do. Goalies generally tend to be quieter, but there are also loud ones — and I`ve been on teams with them myself.