Alexandar Georgiev got his first starting job with the Colorado Avalanche last season, and he made an impression. Through rotating injuries and frequent line changes, the 27-year-old goaltender kept the Avs in the running and played a major role in getting the team into the playoffs. Entering the 2022-23 season, the Avalanche looked a bit different than the team surrounding a slightly dented Stanley Cup on the ice at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022. And one significant change was in net. Darcy Kuemper and Pavel Francouz played outstanding in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But Kuemper hit free agency in the offseason, leaving a question mark for goaltending. Georgiev wasn’t seeing much ice time with the New York Rangers behind Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin. But he played well when he got a shot. The Avalanche took note of that and traded two 2022 NHL Draft picks and a 2023 pick for the netminder on July 7, 2022. Kuemper signed with the Washington Capitals on July 13, 2022. Alexandar Georgiev had a great starting season The Bulgarian native tied the 2022-23 Vezina winner, Linus Ullmark, for most wins with 40 on the season. Although the Boston Bruins’ goaltender only played 49 games, Georgiev’s feat was impressive in only 62. He landed in a four-way tie for fifth place with a .919 save percentage, and a three-way tie for second place in shutouts with five on the season. While Francouz was out with a lower-body injury for much of the season, Georgiev gave no reason for doubts as to his ability to bear the load. “When you prove you can do it, and you have confidence in your ability and you put the work in and the preparation in, the rest just takes over regardless of time of year,” head coach Jared Bednar said of his starting goalie ahead of the playoffs last season [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/commentary/avalanche-gearing-up-for-postseason]. “I mean he’s played big games for us all year long, and played under pressure for us all year long, and he’s done a nice job.” Georgiev told THN last season that he takes a few moments of silence to relax his mind before games. He also said he enjoys the roar of the crowd at Ball Arena but has to tune it out to focus on his job — stopping pucks. With a few new faces on the bench [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/featured/avs-new-additions-what-they-bring-to-the-team], the familiar face in net is expected to pick up where he left off last season.
