I present to you a full list of things easier than predicting NHL goaltending: Literally anything.
In the third part of this series, I’ll take a stab at predicting the 2023-24 season for the Avalanche’s goalies. I’m genuinely excited to look back at this atrocity next summer.
You can find my forwards predictions here
You can find my defensemen predictions here
Listen to “Avalanche add Tomas Tatar” on Spreaker.
Pavel Francouz
The Avs’ loveable backup goalie will hold the title for only one more season. If he has a strong year, he’ll earn a pay raise out of the Avalanche’s budget. If he struggles again with injuries, Colorado would be smart to look elsewhere for its backup role. Either way, the 2023-24 season will be it for Francouz in Colorado.
Alexandar Georgiev
Colorado’s No. 1 netminder tied for an NHL-most 40 wins last season. He won’t replicate that number this year. And for good reason. Georgiev started 62 games in 2022-23 — the third most in the league and second most among playoff-bound goalies. Head coach Jared Bednar won’t have to trot out his starter each night to help make a push for the playoffs, and eventually the Central Division title. Georgiev will be better rested heading into the playoffs this time around.
Justus Annunen
There’s often a season where a young goaltender shows signs of development as a third-stringer before earning a permanent backup role. Think Toronto’s Joseph Woll. Last year the Leafs netminder was 6-1-0 with a .932 save percentage in seven games before appearing — and not looking out of place — in four playoff games. I’m not saying Annunen will start in the postseason. But he’ll show flashes of finally putting it all together in the regular season. Enough to earn serious consideration as the team’s backup next summer. Will it elevate him enough to have a long steady career? That’s yet to be determined. After all, goaltending is about as random as it gets in today’s NHL.
