Georgiev traded to Avalanche by Rangers

Alexandar Georgiev was traded to the Colorado Avalanche by the New York Rangers on Thursday for a third- and fifth-round pick in the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft, and a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

The 26-year-old goalie, who can become a restricted free agent on July 13, was 15-10-2 with a 2.92 goals-against average, .898 save percentage and two shutouts in 33 regular-season games (28 starts) this season backup up Igor Shesterkin, and 0-1 in two Stanley Cup Playoff games.

"He was excited, and he said that," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said. "Obviously when he was a starter he played really well and he wanted a bigger opportunity, and he's got that opportunity and he's looking forward to the challenge. What I like about it is he played in a big market. He was in New York so he can deal with a lot of that stuff. We're excited about him.

"We expect something to be done [with a contract] here at some point, before free agency starts, for sure, but hopefully in the next couple of days. Good dialogue."

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With the trade, the Avalanche won't be re-signing Darcy Kuemper, who will become an unrestricted free agent. The 32-year-old was 37-12-4 with a 2.54 GAA, .921 save percentage and five shutouts in 57 regular-season games, and 10-4 with a 2.57 GAA and .902 save percentage in 16 playoff games to help the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2001.

"It was hard," Sakic said. "Obviously everybody knows we're in a cap situation, and to be able to make a trade to get someone a little bit younger and he'll be a little bit cheaper, so it'll help our cap situation. It was hard. It was hard to phone Darcy and tell him we're moving on. I mean, he helped us win a Stanley Cup. Usually you don't really want to move on from those guys.

"[He's a] tremendous person, tremendous teammate, did a heck of a job for us all year. I didn't want to make the call but obviously you do what you think is right for the team. It was hard and I know it was probably difficult for him, but he's going to do great wherever he goes. I'm sure there's a bunch of teams that will try to sign him."

Pavel Francouz, who signed a two-year contract with Colorado on March 12, will back up Georgiev.

"It'll be [Georgiev] and Pavel Francouz, they'll be our 1-2," Sakic said. "So, we just felt cap-wise, we probably had to do something, and we know he's a younger goalie. He's got a lot of upside. He's shown that when he is a starter that he can be a real good No. 1."

Signed by New York as an undrafted free agent July 19, 2017, Georgiev is 58-48-11 with a 2.94 GAA, .908 save percentage and eight shutouts in 129 games (117 starts).

"It's just something we've been looking at, working on, trying to clear some cap space," Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury said. "Talking to a bunch of teams and that's just kind of a deal that came together today.

"It was nice to get the picks back, for sure. He's a fierce competitor and a real good goalie and he's going to do real good things with Colorado."

With the picks they acquired from the Avalanche, the Rangers selected forwards Bryce McConnell-Barker from Sault St. Marie of the Ontario Hockey League in the third round (No. 97) and Maxim Barbashev from Moncton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in the fifth round (No. 161).