Lehigh Valley Phantoms goaltender Carson Bjarnason just got ranked No. 18 in the Top 25 Under 25, but man, his 2025-26 season? That was an absolute grinder, a campaign that tested everything he had. It was a trying, arduous year he definitely hopes he doesn’t have to live through again as he heads into 2026-27. This 21-year-old netminder, picked 51st overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, faced some serious challenges after a killer junior season.
From Wheat King Hero to Phantom Struggles
Bjarnason came into 2025-26 with high hopes after a fantastic 2024-25 playing his final junior year with the Brandon Wheat Kings. But professional hockey is a whole different beast. He hit some massive potholes this year. In 32 starts, the kid didn’t snag a single shutout, which is a tough stat to swallow for any netminder. Even worse, he only managed to keep opponents to two or fewer goals in just nine of those outings with the Phantoms. The early months were a real up and down affair. Sure, his second game against Cleveland was strong with a .943 save percentage in the win, but that consistency just wasn’t there yet. It’s gotta be brutal adjusting to the travel and demands of pro hockey, right?
The Mid-Season Meltdown That Crushed His Confidence
For a brief, shining moment, it looked like Bjarnason was turning a corner. From early December through January 10, he had a seven-game span where he really seemed to find his rhythm. He even allowed only three goals on 61 shots across two games against Utica and Rochester. And talk about mental toughness: after a rough night against Bridgeport on December 19, he came back the very next day against Hartford and stopped 34 of 35 shots in an overtime victory. That’s the kind of bounce-back you love to see! But then, everything just evaporated. By mid-January, his confidence was essentially shot. On January 19, he gave up six goals on just 20 shots. Four days later, on January 23, he was pulled after letting in three goals on the first four shots. That’s a brutal 15.21 goals-against average for the game, a number that tells you exactly how bad things got. He scraped by with a 3-3-1 record over his next seven games, but then came March 7 against Charlotte: another horrible outing, giving up four goals on 14 shots. That was the final straw, as he then conceded 18 goals in his next four games.
Workload Explosion and a Tough Road Ahead
A huge part of Bjarnason’s struggles came from a tough situation above him. When Dan Vladar got injured and was out for two weeks, Kolosov moved up to the backup role with the Flyers. That meant Bjarnason’s workload went up substantially with the Phantoms. He might have been given the short end of the stick, but the source also states he “never rose to the occasion either.” The stretch where he was counted on to keep the Phantoms afloat was generally below average at best. You can’t put all the blame on him, though. The Phantoms were definitely not the ’90s era New Jersey Devils defensively, and they missed the playoffs entirely. Heading into 2026-27, Bjarnason needs to use this tough year as fuel. He’s got to come back stronger, more consistent, and prove he can handle that top role. His development as a 21-year-old talent is absolutely on the line.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Broad Street Hockey.
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