The Colorado Avalanche acquired goaltender Alexandar Georgiev from the New York Rangers on Thursday in exchange for third- and fifth-round picks in the 2022 NHL Draft and a fifth-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft.
The trade could potentially signal the end of Darcy Kuemper’s stay in Colorado. The pending unrestricted free agent goaltender is a few days removed from helping the Avalanche capture the Stanley Cup title.
Georgiev, 26, posted a 15-10-2 record with two shutouts, a 2.92 goals-against average and .898 save percentage in 33 games (28 starts) this past season. He is a restricted free agent after playing under a two-year, $4.85 million contract.
Signed by the Rangers as an undrafted free agent on July 19, 2017, Georgiev owns a 58-48-11 record with eight shutouts, a 2.94 GAA and .908 save percentage in 129 career games.
Kuemper, 32, enjoyed a career season during his first season with the Avalanche in 2021-22. He posted a 37-12-4 record with five shutouts, a 2.54 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.
He is coming off a two-year, $9 million contract signed with the Arizona Coyotes in 2019.
–Field Level Media