The Colorado Avalanche kicked off their 2024-2025 season last night against the Vegas Golden Knights, as they begin their quest to win the Stanley Cup for the 2nd time in 4 years. However, the game went sideways for the Avalanche as they allowed 8 goals on just 21 shots against in a 8-4 loss at T-Mobile Arena last night.
Alexandar Georgiev, who the Avalanche acquired from the New York Rangers in the summer of 2022, was in between the pipes for the Avs and his night didn’t exactly go as planned.
Georgiev allowed 5 goals on just 16 shots against, before he was pulled in favor of backup Justus Annunen. In mop up duty, Annunen didn’t fare much better as the 24-year old allowed 2 goals on just 4 shots against. The rough night in goal for the Avalanche wasted a brilliant night from Mikko Rantanen, that saw the potential UFA to-be score a hat-trick in the opening game of the season.
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While it is just one game in what is a very long 82 game season, goaltending as been an issue for the Avalanche dating back to last season.
In Georgievs’ first season in Colorado after being acquired from the Rangers for a couple of 3rd round picks as well as a 5th round selection, Georgiev delivered the type of goaltending the Avalanche were expecting. Georgiev turned out a .919 save percentage and a 2.51 goals against average during the 22-23 season, leading the Avs to 40 wins that season, all career highs. Last season however, was a different story.
Last year Georgiev turned out the worst season of his career statistically as a starter. Georgievs’ save percentage fell all the way to sub .900 at .897 and had a goals against average of 3.02.
As Georgiev is in the final year a 3-year contract that pays him $3.40M annually, Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland will have to decide if he can be the guy who can bring the Avalanche back to the promised land in goal.
Backing up Georgiev this season is Finnish goaltender Justus Annunen, who only has 19 games of NHL experience. While the sample size is small, Annunen does have a career save percentage of .911, so there is a possibility that Annunen could be a viable starting goaltender in the NHL at some point. In the event that Georgiev were to continue to falter, it is likely too soon to hand the reigns over to Annunen, which leaves the Avalanche in a less-than prime situation.
The goaltending market during the season isn’t usually too active, leaving teams with not many choices to make an upgrade.
One team though to keep an eye on is the Minnesota Wild. The Wild have decided to go with the somewhat rare three-headed-monster in goal, as they have future Hall of Famer in Marc-Andre Fleury, Filip Gustavsson and promising top goaltender prospect in Jesper Wallstedt all on their roster. With this season likely being Fleury’s last and possibly not wanting to move at any point and Wallstedt being the future in goal for the Wild, there is a chance that maybe at some point Gustavsson could become available. Gustavsson, 26, has two years remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $3.75M. Whether or not Wild GM Bill Guerin would move him to a division rival is a story for another day.
So for now, the Avalanche will continue down the road this season with the tandem of Georgiev/Annunen, hoping that Georgiev reverts back to his 22-23 form. They will need him to if they want to return to the Stanley Cup Finals.
