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Colorado Avalanche: Georgiev extension is team-friendly

By Graham Tiedtke

Apr 29, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev (40) makes a save on Washington Capitals right wing Garnet Hathaway (21) during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev (40) makes a save on Washington Capitals right wing Garnet Hathaway (21) during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Colorado Avalanche have signed new goaltender Alexandar Georgiev to a contract extension cheaper than another option.

The Colorado Avalanche traded for goaltender Alexandar Georgiev from the New York Rangers. At the time, Georgiev was in need of a new contract.

The contract has been agreed upon. Georgiev has signed a three-year extension worth $3.4 million annually.

That’s a little less than half of what Darcy Kuemper is reportedly asking for—$6 million annually.

This is a smart way of managing the salary cap and gives the Avalanche flexibility and perhaps a better chance to sign their pending free agents (this year and next season).

Colorado is in the process of re-signing Valeri Nichushkin, and still have to make decisions on defenseman Josh Manson, left winger Andre Burakovsky and potentially defenseman Ryan Murray.

Next offseason, we will be talking more about the kind of extension centerman Nathan MacKinnon will receive from the Colorado Avalanche.

Ultimately, every deal the team makes going forward will have the MacKinnon extension in mind. He is the team’s most important player, along with Gabriel Landeskog, Cale Makar and Nichushkin.

These extensions and deals with their in-house players will also shed light on who they can and cannot afford or at least chase in free agency.

Recently, Caleb Malden provided some names the Avalanche could look at when free agency begins on July 13th.

At the end of the day, I do not expect the Avalanche to be going after big-name players. Of course, that can be dependent on who re-signs with the team, but there is no doubt in my mind that they want to get deals done with most of their current players, lessening the need to go all-out in free agency.

The Avalanche had just two draft picks in the 2022 NHL Draft, and have some players on the Colorado Eagles that can make an impact for them later down the road.

General Manager Joe Sakic strikes again with a great contract.

The Avalanche have also signed defenseman Jacob MacDonald to a two-year extension worth an average annual value of $762,500. He played 33 games for the Colorado Eagles last season, registering 10 goals and 15 assists.

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