The Colorado Avalanche acquired restricted free agent and backup goaltender Alexandar Georgiev from the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2022 third-round pick, 2023 third-round pick, and 2022 fifth-round pick.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have acquired a third-round and fifth-round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, as well as a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, from Colorado in exchange for goaltender Alexandar Georgiev.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 7, 2022
Alexandar Georgiev Traded
Over his five-year NHL career, Georgiev has only played for the New York Rangers. He originally signed as a free agent with the New York team in 2019. Since then, he has won 58 games with 117 game starts in 129 career games. Achieving a career save percentage of .908 and a goals-against-average of 2.94. The Bulgarian native also has eight career shutouts.
Last season, he played 33 games with 15 wins and 28 game starts. He also achieved a .898 SV% and a 2.92 save percentage.
It’s an interesting acquisition for Colorado, who already has Pavel Francouz under contract through next season. It could be a sign that the team isn’t close to an agreement with pending unrestricted free agent Darcy Kuemper.
What This Means for the Future
It is difficult to be under the shadow of Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin. However, Georgiev had his worst season in save percentage. The 26-year-old seemed to lose confidence and became unreliable between the pipes. That said, this contract will hopefully give more exposure and therefore more responsibility. The Rangers do not have another ready-to-go backup goalie currently. Keith Kinkaid who was signed with the Rangers in 2020 has played 10 games for them in 2 years and spends his time in the AHL.
Georgiev played two games in the first round of the playoffs when Shesterkin wobbled, and he is still a solid goaltender. Hopefully, the backup goaltender will find his rhythm again with his new team.
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