Former Colorado Avalanche goalie Alexandar Georgiev still does not have a new home as he looks to continue his professional hockey career in 2026-27.
Georgiev, 30, joined Spartak Moskva of the KHL last season after a brief two-game stint with the Buffalo Sabres’ AHL affiliate in Rochester. He terminated his contract with the Sabres to return to Russia, eventually signing a two-year deal with Spartak.
But in early June, Georgiev opted to terminate the final year of that contract in hopes of landing another NHL opportunity.
That opportunity has yet to come.
As of Aug. 16, Georgiev remains without a team with NHL training camps just over a month away and the KHL season set to begin before then. His next destination remains unclear.
The former Avalanche netminder spent two full seasons and parts of a third in Colorado before being traded to the San Jose Sharks for Mackenzie Blackwood in December 2024. His brief stint with the Sharks didn’t go much better, continuing what had already been a difficult season in Colorado.
Georgiev hasn’t played in the NHL since.
It’s a significant fall for a goalie who was once the clear starter for a Stanley Cup contender. In his first season with the Avalanche, Georgiev led the NHL with 40 wins. He followed that up with 38 wins the next season. Across two playoff runs with Colorado, he went 9-9 in 18 starts.
It’ll be interesting to see if a team is willing to give him a chance. We’re not far away from PTO season, when teams begin handing out professional tryouts to players like Georgiev who have something to prove and are looking for a way to extend their careers.
For a goalie who was once playing a major role for one of the NHL’s best teams, Georgiev’s next opportunity could be his most important one yet. It’s hard to get an opportunity in this league, let alone two.