The Colorado Avalanche don’t have the NHL’s most robust pipeline. But they do have some solid prospects.
Perhaps they’re not the kind that will become NHL superstars, but they’re the kind that could transform the franchise.
That’s the case of Ilya Nabokov.
As it stands, Colorado has pretty much one decent goaltending prospect in the entire system. And that’s Nabokov, depending on how you see Trent Minter.
Now, let’s talk about Miner for a moment. He’s proven to be a fantastic AHL-level starting netminder. But he’s yet to get a chance to prove himself at the NHL level. For argument’s sake, let’s suppose that Miner becomes at least good enough to be a tandem goalie.
That situation would give the Avalanche TWO decent goaltending prospects.
But if you take Nabokov out of the equation, Colorado would only have ONE NHL-caliber goaltending prospect in the entire organization.
In short, that’s no bueno.
It’s worth noting that the Avalanche don’t need Miner or Nabokov to take over the crease this season. But the clock is ticking. And sooner or later, Colorado will need at least one of them to take over at least the backup role.
Nabokov earmarked as Avalanche start of the future
As it stands, Ilya Nabokov is earmarked as the Avalanche’s starter of the future. The 23-year-old could eventually take over the main role even if MacKenzie Blackwood remains under contract. Blackwood is signed for three more seasons beyond this year. However, that doesn’t mean that Nabokov would have to wait until 2030 to have a chance to start.
In fact, Nabokov could become a factor at the NHL as soon as next season. That’s because Scott Wedgewood will be a free agent next summer. And if one of Miner or Nabokov is ready to take over, the organization may pass on re-signing Wedgewood.
That’s why Nabokov is so important at this point. If he proves he’s ready for the NHL, the Avalanche may feel confident enough to let Wedgewood ride off into the sunset.
Otherwise, Colorado will need to think about its long-term succession plan in the crease. That might mean trading for another netminder or targeting goaltending prospects.
By the looks of it, the Avalanche have already done their homework. Miner, Nabokov, and Nikita Novosyolov are all lottery tickets the club holds at the moment. Even if just one of them turns out to be a bona fide NHL netminder, the organization can buy itself some time to figure out its next move.
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