Alexandar Georgiev’s NHL stint is coming to an end. Nearly a year after getting traded by the Avalanche, the 29-year-old goaltender is on waivers with plans to terminate his contract with the Buffalo Sabres.
Georgiev is expected to return to Russia and sign with Spartak in the KHL, according to HockeyNewsHub on Twitter/X.
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Georgiev’s fall from grace might be one of the quickest in recent memory. Just 18 months ago, he was starting for Colorado in the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, when the Avs fell in six games to the Dallas Stars. That concluded a solid playoff run that included a five-game series victory over Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck.
Five months later, Georgiev was in goal when the Avalanche dropped the puck for their 2024-25 campaign. He had a historically bad start to last season. On Nov. 30, Colorado traded its backup Justus Annunen to Nashville for Scott Wedgewood, who came in to help ease the load off of Georgiev.
Not even 10 days later, Georgiev himself was shipped to San Jose in a deal that brought Mackenzie Blackwood to Colorado. Georgiev had just as bad a season with the Sharks, albeit they weren’t a team expected to challenge for a playoff spot.
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Despite his resume, he was unable to sign an NHL deal until late into the offseason when the Sabres gave him a little more than league minimum on a one-year contract. Georgiev could not solidify a position in training camp and was sent to the Sabres’ AHL club.
He was way down the depth chart, playing behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Devon Levi, Alex Lyon, and waiver claim Colten Ellis.
Georgiev made 288 starts from 2017-2025 with the Avs, Sharks, and New York Rangers. He posted a record of 151-108-26 and a .903 save percentage. Georgiev had 78 wins in his two full seasons in Colorado, where he started a whopping 124 games out of 164.
