October 17, 2024 | 4:47pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

AVALANCHE HAVE EARLY ISSUES IN GOAL

 

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Alexandar Georgiev, goaltender

 

The Colorado Avalanche are not off to the start they expected this season, and while their campaign is only four games in, the has is 0-4-0 to kick off the 2024-25 schedule.

Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev has struggled out of the gate, which the Avs have not been able to rally around and make up for deficiencies in net.

Georgiev, 28, has given up 17 goals in his first four games of the season and currently owns a 5.79 goals-against-average and a .800 save percentage.

He is in the final year of a three-year, $10.2 million contract and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. At the rate he is performing, this may be his last season in Denver.

During the latest ‘Game Day’ segment on TFP, Dennis Bernstein suggested Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland may need to begin his search for a new No.1 netminder sooner rather than later. But with limited salary cap space to play with, Colorado’s hands may be tied for the time being.

The Avs are currently utilizing LTIR to be cap compliant and unless they move out Georgiev and perhaps another player, adding an impact goaltender this season may not be realistic.

However, as Bernstein pointed out, one potential target may be Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson, who has two more years left on his contract after this season and comes with a $6.4 million cap hit.

Anaheim can retain up to half of Gibson’s contract and take on a deal back, perhaps that of Georgiev’s, if the Avs offer up additional compensation beyond a package for Gibson to make up for the financial implications of such a trade.

Gibson underwent emergency appendectomy surgery in late-September and is not expected back on the ice until early-November.

If Georgiev can right his ship, it may give MacFarland time to explore all of his options this season well in advance of the trade deadline. Alternatively, as Bernstein noted, the Avs may have no choice but to go after a new starting goaltender.