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Colorado Avalanche G Alexandar Georgiev can be a Vezina Trophy winner

By Scott Cole

DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 18: Alexandar Georgiev #40 of the Colorado Avalanche makes a save against the Seattle Kraken in the third period of Game One in the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 18: Alexandar Georgiev #40 of the Colorado Avalanche makes a save against the Seattle Kraken in the third period of Game One in the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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The Colorado Avalanche are off to a 2-0 start in the extremely early stages of the 2023 NHL season and their go-to goaltender, Alexandar Georgiev looks as solid as ever in net. Fans are already curious about what his workload may look like this season, as the Avs announced Pavel Francouz would miss time and was placed on IR prior to the start of the regular season when final rosters were announced. Should fans be worried about a large workload for Georgiev? What exactly would a large workload look like? If last year’s numbers are that standard, count on Georgiev being present at the NHL Awards show for years to come as a Vezina Trophy finalist.

Georgiev set career-highs in numerous categories as the legitimate #1 starter for the Colorado Avalanche in the first year of a three-year contract, posting a 40-16-6 record in 62 starts during the 2022-2023 season and tying the mark for wins. While he was not a finalist or listed as a candidate for the Vezina Trophy in his first year for the Avs due to a 2.53 Goals against average, it may be expected that Georgiev won’t be overlooked for long if those types of wins are produced on a regular basis. With one of the best defensive units in the league, Georgiev could easily carry the workload with an expected number of 60-65 games started during the season.

The issue many fans worry about is if this type of situation can be sustainable or hurt the Avalanche come playoff time. Without one of the premiere backup goaltenders in the league during the last couple of seasons available, will Justus Annunen or Ivan Prosvetov be capable of filling the void enough for fans to trust either of them? If you trust Joe Sakic and Chris MacFarland, the answer is yes. Whoever gets the additional work will be used strategically; rebuilding teams, the expected win against a “lesser” opponent type matchup. Those games will be minimal, with an expected 17-20 games only.

Expect Georgiev to shoulder the brunt of the workload throughout the season as he was brought here to be THE guy, our almost every-game starter. He will carry most of the burden on a team that is still projected as a heavy favorite to win the Stanley Cup.  If Georgiev can produce 35 to 40 wins in roughly 60-65 starts, meaning a 66 percent win rate, it’s going to be great being a Colorado Avalanche fan and writer.

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