August is often the slowest month of the hockey calendar. Outside of the odd Oliver Kylington signing, which the Colorado Avalanche announced on Monday, you don’t usually see a lot of player movement during this month.
With that, this felt like the perfect time to answer your questions. In the first part of my Avalanche mailbag series, I answer any and all goaltending-related questions. Enjoy.
@moo-va-long asks: How do you feel about the goalie situation?
I feel comfortable with how the Avs are starting the season in goal, but I know very well the next 12 months could look drastically different. First question, is Justus Annunen a true NHL goalie? If so, is he a capable backup goalie for a team that doesn’t have one of the top starters? Basically, can he do for Alexandar Georgiev what Pavel Francouz did for Philipp Grubauer, Darcy Kuemper and Georgiev and step in as needed?
And speaking of Georgiev, will he hold the fort down without a lot of the drama that surrounded his game in 2023-24? Will entering a contract year affect his play? Georgiev is a good goalie for this team, but only if he’s not being overplayed and only if he keeps his temper in check. I loved how he bounced back after Game 1 against Winnipeg. It shows that he’s got what it takes.
@Arrivaldifferent asks: What do you think the club will do at goaltender next season in 2025-26? Bring Georgie back cheap? Or go young?
I look at the Toronto Maple Leafs’ current situation and see that as the most ideal scenario for next year. Of course, for this to happen, Annunen needs to take a big step this year and prove he can handle 1A-1B duties.
Toronto is basically handing the team over to Joseph Woll and bringing in a stopgap veteran in Anthony Stolarz to split duties with him. If Annunen can play well enough to earn the team’s trust, I can see him being paired with someone similar to Stolarz, which would give the Avs two goalies they trust on any given night without paying a lot for either of them in 2025-26.
I feel like Georgiev is either going to play well enough to earn a pay raise out of the Avs’ budget, or not play well enough for the team to even want to bring him back.
I also wonder about an Annunen and Ilya Nabokov duo in the future. Maybe not 2025-26, but what about the year after?
@f4rtwaffles asks: What is a realistic timeline to Expect Ilya Nabokov to come over to North America?
I don’t think it’s crazy to expect him to come over in a year. Nabokov has one season remaining on his KHL deal and wants to be in the NHL. A lot of it will ride on two factors: First, his play. If he continues to show he’s an NHL-quality goalie, the Avs will sign him and get him here. And second, where he fits on the depth chart. If Georgiev makes it tough to let him go, and the Avs look at possibly re-signing him, then where does Nabokov fit? What if Annunen also is having a great season?
All things considered, I think ideally the Avalanche are hoping he plays well and can come to North America in a year. Whether he plays in the AHL or NHL will, of course, be determined by how he plays.
@wastedtalent34 asks: Does Georgie get an extension before the season starts?
I don’t see it. Way too many things are up in the air right now for him to get an extension before the season begins. I do think there’s a chance he remains part of the team past the 2024-25 season, but I just can’t see an extension happening right now.
Things to consider: How much money can the team allocate towards goaltending in 2025-26 and beyond? How much will Georgiev ask for? If Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushskin both return, will the team even have the option to bring back Georgiev if they want to? Where does Mikko Rantanen’s contract extension land?
Just way too many moving parts for Chris MacFarland to commit to any kind of number for Georgiev past 2024-25 right now. This is part of the reason why Annunen received his extension when he did. The team at least knows it has him at a low cap hit for the 2025-26 season.