Early Friday afternoon the Colorado Avalanche announced the signing of a two year entry-level contract for goaltender Ilya Nabokov. According to PuckPedia, the deal carries a $975K AAV. It's worth pointing out that Nabokov's contract will not count toward the Avalanche's cap situation until Nabokov formally joins the team.
While Colorado's in-season goaltending additions of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood seem to have paid off for the team, the inclusion of Nabokov is not an unexpected or unwelcome move. Hopefully, Nabokov's time developing under the organization can offer the Colorado Avalanche a future franchise goalie.
In the meantime, here's everything Colorado Avalanche fans need to know about the club's newest signing.
Born in Kasli, Russia, the 22 year old netminder played the 2024-25 season in the KHL with Metallurg Magnitogorsk. He posted a 23-17-6 record in a career high 49 games played and finished the season with a save percentage of .923, a 2.22 GAA and three shutouts.
In his second KHL season, Nabokov appeared in 5 playoff games for Metallurg, coming into the summer with a 2-3 playoff record, a 2.13 GAA and a .920 save percentage, similar numbers to his regular season stats.
Nabokov's all time KHL numbers boast a 46-30-9 record, 2.19 GAA, .926 save percentage, and six shutouts over 93 regular-season games in just two seasons. In the 2023-24 season, Nabokov's 23 wins awarded him Rookie of the Year, placed him sixth in the league in wins, and assisted the team in winning the 2024 Gagarin Cup. Nabokov's .942 save percentage, 1.82 GAA, and four shutouts in 23 postseason games won him MVP honors, the youngest goaltender to ever achieve this feat.
Standing at 6'0" and weighing 179 pounds, Nabokov's frame is smaller than the average NHL goalie and while that may be a factor in the Russian goaltender's late draft and contract signing, his KHL experience and maturity could also have a big role in his NHL development.
Ilya Nabokov is expected to remain with the KHL on loan for the time being. As such, there is no firm timeline on when Nabokov could make the transition to North America. But it makes sense for Nabokov to remain in Russia for now as there is no guarantee he could get regular playing time.
So, spending another season in Russia will help Nabokov's ongoing development until the Colorado Avalanche determine their goaltending depth situation moving forward. The club will keep a close eye on their newest goaltending prospect as he continues to grow.