Former Colorado Avalanche goaltender out of chances in the NHL?

Is former Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev finally out of chances in the NHL?

The Colorado Avalanche moved off of goaltender Alexandar Georgiev earlier this past season after he didn’t perform up to standards, following a year that saw him lead the league in wins in 2022-23 with 40, and then posting a 38-win season in 2023-24.

Georgiev started the 2024-25 season with the Avalanche, putting up an 8-7 record. While not everything was his fault, the blame tends to lay in the glove of a struggling goaltender. He just didn’t make some of the saves that would be considered “easy.” He was even pulled from the second game of the season against the Columbus Blue Jackets, putting up just a .667 save percentage and allowing three goals on nine shots.

Even Georgiev knew the team was losing hope with him.

No matter how little hope the Avalanche and their fans had in Georgiev, his performances were just not cutting it. The Avs sent Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko, and two draft selections to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Mackenzie Blackwood, forward Givani Smith and a draft pick. Despite Colorado’s return in the trade (mainly Blackwood), the Avalanche chose to retain 14 percent of Georgiev’s contract in that trade.

Smith only played in seven games for the Avalanche last season, averaging just 6:21 of ice time during that period. He had no goals nor assists and a plus-minus of -2.

Smith was then shipped to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Erik Johnson, who won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022.

Alexandar Georgiev won’t return to San Jose Sharks

It was reported on Thursday that the San Jose Sharks are not bringing Georgiev back for a second season, even as a backup. To me, that says all you need to know about Georgiev.

It’s a sad reality, but he’s just not a good goaltender. He could technically continue what he entered the league doing—being a full-time backup for a team—but it’s kind of difficult to see him do that again after the Avalanche committed to him as their full-time starter when Darcy Kuemper left town for the Washington Capitals.

My colleague Nestor Quixtan suggested that maybe Georgiev would return to the Avalanche with the understanding that he would play in the AHL with the Eagles. Personally, I want no part of that. The Avalanche swung at Georgiev and missed. I don’t see him turning his career around by playing in the minor league.

Georgiev has a career record of 151-108-0-26 and a goals-against average of 2.99. While it is still possible that another team saw what Georgiev could do for the Avalanche in his first year in Colorado, I would be pretty hesitant if I were a general manager or head coach.

Don’t get me wrong: I know that I’ve expressed my feelings about Georgiev. I’m simply a non-believer. That’s not to say that I wouldn’t love for him to succeed somewhere. I would. I just don’t think that it’s going to happen. He was given multiple chances and just hasn’t lived up to what teams want of him. Maybe he gets picked up by a winning team that can afford to have a weaker backup, but it wouldn’t surprise me if we have seen the last of him in the NHL.