The Colorado Avalanche didn’t waste any time getting newly-acquired goaltender Alexandar Georgiev signed to a contract extension. The team announced Sunday afternoon that Georgiev has signed a three-year extension worth $3.4 million per season.
The Avs acquired Georgiev on the first day of the NHL Entry Draft when the organization realized they weren’t going to come to terms on an extension for Darcy Kuemper. GM Joe Sakic got to work early, avoiding the carousel that would the goalie market over the coming days and weeks and targeted his guy, in the hopes the tandem of Georgiev and Pavel Francouz would get the Avalanche back into the playoffs and compete for another Stanley Cup.
“He wanted a bigger opportunity, and he’s got that opportunity. He was looking forward to the challenge. We’re excited for him.” The Avs must plan on playing him a lot considering the price they’re paying to lock in a goalie who didn’t have the best season in 2021-22. His career numbers have been solid, but he lost the starting job to Igor Shesterkin and there was some concern he had what it took to be a starter in the NHL. However, if Georgiev pans out, the Avs will have gotten a great deal on a netminder considering this offseason is likely to be ripe with overpayments for goaltenders that may or may not be much better.
Some will argue the Avs are betting on themselves to be good no matter their goaltending situation and that over the next couple of seasons if they get merely average netminding, their talent and structure will keep them competitive. Georgiev should be able to provide them with average goaltending, if nothing else.
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