The Colorado Avalanche may have found their NHL backup for next season. The team has re-signed Pavel Francouz to a one-year one-way contract for 2019-20 worth $950K. Francouz was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Colorado signed Francouz out of the KHL in 2018 for just $690K despite his incredible numbers for Chelyabinsk. The Czech goaltender posted a .953 save percentage in 2016-17 and followed that with a .946 in 2017-18, but was somehow not nearly as coveted as fellow free agent KHL goaltender Mikko Koskinen, who signed with the Edmonton Oilers for $2.5MM. The difference in expectation may simply be because of Francouz’ stature, as he stands just 6’0″, much smaller than most NHL goaltenders—Koskinen, for comparison measures 6’7″.
That small stature certainly didn’t stop Francouz from succeeding in North America however. Starting 49 games for the Colorado Eagles of the AHL, the 28-year old goaltender recorded a .918 save percentage and 27-20-1 record, only to post even better numbers during his two NHL appearances. While Koskinen is now signed to a three-year, $13.5MM contract with Edmonton, the Avalanche have managed to bring back Francouz on another bargain-basement contract that gives them plenty of options this summer.
Philipp Grubauer figures to be the Colorado starter next season given Semyon Varlamov’s pending free agency, but the team could still bring in another veteran to give them more of a tandem look. Grubauer has never started more than 37 games in a single season, though he certainly proved he was capable of playing deep into the year when he posted a .925 save percentage in 12 playoff appearances. Otherwise, they could now use Francouz as the primary backup and use the extra money to go after some other free agents. GM Joe Sakic has admitted he plans on being “more aggressive” in the free agent market this year, and Colorado is set up with oodles of cap room to work with even after some of the incoming restricted free agent deals.
Interestingly, this was a move that was almost a requirement for the Avalanche. The team only has two other goaltenders in the entire organization under contract for 2019-20, and teams are required to have three at all times. That meant someone needed to be signed by July 1st, though an agreement could have been made with RFA Spencer Martin to fulfill those needs. Instead it’s Francouz, who will take over the No. 2 spot on the depth chart for now.
Good move.