Georgiev Getting Settled in Colorado

Alexandar Georgiev is finding his groove in Denver and with his new club, the Colorado Avalanche, where he's joined the team for training camp ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Upon spending the first five years of his NHL career with the New York Rangers - where he posted an overall 58-48-11 record, a 2.94 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and eight shutouts in 129 career games - the 26-year-old netminder is eager for his new chapter with the defending Stanley Cup Champions in the Avalanche.
"Training camp always has guys dialed in," Georgiev said. "There are guys fighting for a spot and trying to prove every day that they are the guys for the season. All of the guys here are awesome. They're all super great guys who are working hard. We're looking forward to the season."

Georgiev inked his three year deal with the Avalanche in mid-July. In the time since, he's acclimated to the outdoorsy and quieter life in Denver - where he's already found a place - compared to the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. He noted how he's enjoyed taking in the scenery and even took a day trip up to visit Boulder for the first time recently.
"The nature is so beautiful," Georgiev said. "It's so awesome here. The temperature feels like summer. There's a lot you can do. I'm enjoying it a lot."
So far during Colorado's preseason slate, Georgiev has suited up for two games - both against Vegas. He donned the Avalanche sweater for the first time ever in Colorado's eventual 3-1 win over the Golden Knights on Sept. 25 and the second time, he played 40 minutes in the Avalanche's 7-1 loss at Vegas on Sept. 28.
In the first preseason meeting against Vegas, the Ruse, Bulgaria native made 12 saves on 13 shots through 29:44 minutes and earned a .923 SV%. In his second preseason contest, Georgiev turned aside 12 of 18 shots he faced for a .667 SV%.
"I got to play in some games, which was good to get back," Georgiev said. "There were a few things that were exposed that I need to work on. It doesn't happen so often in practice, so it's good to know after playing in a game and to get that info of what to fix moving forward."
In addition to getting back into game action, Georgiev has benefitted from getting to know his teammates better including the other half of the Avalanche's goalie tandem in Pavel Francouz.
For Francouz - who hails from Pilsner, Czech Republic - there's some familiarity with Georgiev as they pair can converse in either Russian and English as they try to develop their own rapport.

"He seems like a nice guy," Francouz said. "We sit next to each other at the practice facility so we've had some time to talk. [After playing in the KHL for three years] I speak Russian too so that helps a little bit in the communication, but overall he speaks great English too. We really try to be the best possible ourselves and try to push each other to be even better. I think we'll do anything possible to make the team better."
For Georgiev, it's also been nice to observe Francouz's goaltending style and tactics up close, especially after being in a consistent tandem with Russian netminder and this past year's Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin back in New York.
"It's nice to see him in action too," Georgiev said of Francouz. "I can pick up a couple of things just from watching him play. He plays quite a different style. It's different to see, but he's always very willing to share knowledge."
Georgiev has also been able to experience what it's like to play behind Colorado's stellar defensive core - which averaged the ninth lowest goals against per game in the league last season at 2.83 - comprised of 2022 James Memorial Trophy Winner and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Samuel Girard, Josh Manson, Erik Johnson and Bowen Byram.

"There's a ton of skill among the d-core here," Georgiev said. "They are really good defensively as well from what I've seen. They play with a lot of speed. It's super fun to watch those guys in practice. I'm excited to play for them."
And with just two preseason games remaining before the 2022-23 season officially gets underway for Colorado on Oct. 12 - marking the beginning of the team's chance to defend its Stanley Cup title - the Avalanche and Georgiev are mutually enthused to take on the task at hand and journey to try and accomplish an eventual repeat.
"He's excited, he's a worker," Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar said. "You see it, at the end of a hard practice and second day of training camp, some guys are just thinking, 'OK, I've got to get off the ice. I know what's right for my body, I'm going to get back after it tomorrow here and hit the gym and do some work.' But he's already back in the net and putting in the work. He's excited. He wants to earn the opportunity. He knows nothing is going to be given to him. He knows how good [Francouz] has been for us. He's going to get a really good opportunity here. He wants it and he's hungry for it. I love that mindset that he's here to prove something. I feel like we should all have that mindset regardless of what we've done in the past. It's not about the past and it's about right now."