Continuing our rundown of the KHL’s top players in each position. 12 seasons, 12 players. Today we’re going on with goalies with Mikko Koskinen and Stanislav Galimov.
12 from 12. Best goalies: Garipov and Proskuryakov
8. Stanislav Galimov
GP: 310, W: 160, SO: 39, GAA: 2.09, S%: 92.4
Clubs: Ak Bars, Atlant, CSKA, Torpedo, Metallurg, Traktor
Country: Russia
At the dawn of the KHL, Galimov served as a backup for Ak Bars Kazan, growing and developing while the Tatarstan franchise could count on goalies like Fredrik Norrena and Petri Vehanen. In this capacity, Stanislav Galimov won two Gagarin Cups in Kazan — his only significant successes so far. In the first two KHL campaign Galimov — in his early 20s — posted great numbers, but never convinced the Kazan franchise to entrust him with the starting goalie role.
After he left Kazan in 2012, he had an extensive tour of the KHL. He had two years as Atlant’s number one goalie, then moved to CSKA in 2014, where he spent one year and a half before returning to Kazan for a second stint. However, back in Tatarstan, Galimov had to deal with the rise of Emil Garipov, who eventually won the competition with the Chelyabinsk-native netminder.
Galimov then moved to Torpedo, where he played two high-level seasons, but the team never achieved the results they were hoping for. Last year, he moved to Metallurg as the team needed a reliable backup for Vasily Koshechkin. However, the Magnitogorsk franchise didn’t perform the way it wanted. Eventually, he moved to his native Chelyabinsk, where he finished the season with 16 games and mentoring another young goalie on the rise: Ivan Fedotov. At 32, Galimov has plenty of experience, but is still young — he can play several years down the road, break some records and, why not? — winning his third Gagarin Cup.
7. Mikko Koskinen
GP: 261, W: 151, SO: 32, GAA: 1.88, S%: 93.0
Clubs: Sibir, SKA
Country: Finland
The 2-meter giant goalie first landed his massive frame in the KHL in the 2013-14 season, when he joined Sibir Novosibirsk after starting the season in his native Finland. That season, Mikko Koskinen was called to the All-Star Game in Bratislava. However, the real turning point for Koskinen, who also played in the NHL with the New York Islanders before returning in Europe in 2011, was the trade that saw him moving to St. Petersburg in exchange for the often hot-tempered Czech goalie Alexander Salak. The first season on the shores of the Neva river was a blast for Koskinen, who captured the League’s award for the best goalie and helped SKA winning its first Gagarin Cup.
In the next season, Koskinen was nothing short of spectacular once again, topping the league in playoffs shutouts and saves percentage. Still, it wasn’t enough as CSKA marched over SKA in the Western Conference semifinals with a sound 4-0. However, Koskinen’s shape was confirmed on the international stage. In Russia, Finland won the silver medal losing to Canada in the finals, and Koskinen once again enjoyed best goalie honors backstopping the Leijonat in eight games.
The 2016-17 campaign wasn’t any worse for the towering netminder from Vantaa: SKA won its second Gagarin Cup in three years, and Koskinen had the best GAA in the postseason. After a final year in St. Petersburg — when he also started for Team Finland at the 2018 Olympic Games in South Korea — Koskinen returned overseas, signing with the Edmonton Oilers. To date, Koskinen still holds the record for the longest shutout streak for Sibir Novosibirsk, while in St. Petersburg, he is the top goalie for wins and played games.
