Colorado Avalanche : Reviewing the New Guys

Pavel Francouz

Last season (Colorado Eagles): 27-20-1 in 49 games played; 2.68 GAA; .918 Sv%

Last Season (Avalanche): 0-2-0 in 2 games played; 1.94 GAA; .943 Sv%

This season: 7-2-1 in 12 games played; 2.50 GAA; .923 Sv%

Cap Hit – $950,000

Yes, I know that Frankie played last season in the organisation, even seeing game time in an Avalanche sweater, but 2 games in relief does not give us very reliable stats. Now we can really see what he’s made of!

A bargain compared to making Semyon Varlamov into a hugely overpaid backup goalie – he signed a $5 million per year deal to play backup to Thomas Greiss in New York. I prefer this move, as the Avalanche now have more money to play with, come trade deadline time. I know that this will only fan the fires of people saying that the Avs make a fantastic trade partner with the Devils for Taylor Hall. My opinion remains the same – why would you trade for Hall, to put him on the 3rd line? See my comments on the two new second line wingers we signed in the off season earlier in this article.

But I’m getting off topic here. Francouz has played well this season, making the switch to North American Hockey rather well, he was unlucky not to pick up more of an opportunity last term when both Varly and Gru were injured. But instead, he went back to Loveland and used that opportunity instead to hone his craft. He was on a 1 year deal, to show the organisation that he was worthy of a chance to play for the big club. He earned another 1 year deal this year, so I would say that this season is the chance to earn more money and term for the backup job.

I think so far this year, he has done that. So much so, that Sakic is probably looking toward the checkbook to make an offer on his services for at least another few years. We have had a chance to see both Adam Werner and Antoine Bibeau play in goal this year and both players produced mixed results. Werner would benefit from more seasoning down in the AHL, being only 22 and Bibeau is not that much more experienced, being only 25. Perhaps these guys have a future in the NHL, but not with Francouz blocking the way.

I’m still saying that Francouz has done well this season. I am worried about the injury he suffered in Winnipeg , as concussions and Colorado Avalanche goalies don’t go down well. I’m having flashbacks to Jonathan Bernier and a playoffs with a depleted goalie corps

Quarter-Season Grade: B

Frankie is doing what he should be doing – playing good hockey against opponents he is thrown against and he is watching how Grubbauer plays when playing as his backup. Learning the opponents and he will continue to grow as a player over the course of the season. Keep doing what you’re doing – maybe pressing for those extra starts will keep Gru on his toes and make you both better for it!