Former Colorado Avalanche goaltender Ivan Prosvetov is leaving North America once again, returning to Russia after a winding career path that included a brief NHL stint with Colorado and a memorable run with the Colorado Eagles.
This former Colorado Avalanche goaltender is heading back to Russia.
Ivan Prosvetov has signed with Avangard Omsk of the KHL, ending his latest stint in North America after spending the 2025-26 season with the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL.
While his time in the Avalanche organization was relatively short, Prosvetov became an important depth piece during a season when Colorado’s goaltending situation was suddenly tested.
The Avalanche acquired Prosvetov off waivers from the Arizona Coyotes in October 2023 after veteran backup Pavel Francouz was sidelined with an injury. At the time, Colorado needed insurance behind Alexandar Georgiev, and Prosvetov quickly earned the trust of the coaching staff.
The 27-year-old made his Avalanche debut on Oct. 26, 2023, replacing Georgiev in a loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Just days later, he received his first NHL start and delivered one of the best moments of his brief Colorado tenure, stopping 28 shots in a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues.
With Francouz eventually ruled out for the remainder of the season, Prosvetov stepped into the backup role behind Georgiev. He appeared in 11 games for the Avalanche, earning four wins while providing Colorado with stability during a difficult stretch.
However, as the season progressed, his opportunities became limited. After the All-Star break, the Avalanche placed Prosvetov on waivers and assigned him to the Colorado Eagles.
The move ended up being a turning point.
Prosvetov immediately found his confidence in the AHL, putting together a dominant run with the Eagles. He won eight straight games, earned AHL Player of the Week honors and was recognized as the league’s Goaltender of the Month in February.
He remained with the Eagles through the remainder of the season before returning to the Avalanche as a playoff reserve.
After leaving Colorado, Prosvetov continued his career overseas, signing with CSKA Moscow in the KHL for the 2024-25 season. He later returned to North America with the Calgary Wranglers, where he posted an .887 save percentage last season.
Now, he is making another trip back to Russia to continue his career with Avangard Omsk.
The move is unlikely to have a major impact on the Avalanche’s current plans in net, but Prosvetov remains an interesting “what if” from Colorado’s recent past.
He showed flashes of being a reliable NHL goaltender during his time with the Avalanche, but consistency and opportunity ultimately determined his path. Now, he’ll look to continue his career overseas and carve out a new chapter in the KHL.
