Avalanche goaltender set to sign deal with KHL

After losing his backup spot midseason, it appears Avalanche goalie Ivan Prosvetov’s days in the NHL are over. He’s set to sign a three-year contract with CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League upon reaching Group 6 unrestricted free agency this summer, reports Pavel Panyshev of Championat.

Prosvetov hadn’t played an NHL game since February when he was placed on waivers and subsequently assigned to AHL Colorado. While he’s two years away from standard UFA eligibility, he qualifies for a Group 6 exemption this summer because he’ll be 25 on June 30 and has played fewer than 28 NHL games while simultaneously completing at least three professional seasons. 

He was likely to receive interest in the open market after posting a .922 SV% in 20 AHL games, but he’s reportedly opting to return to his native Moscow instead.

The 2018 fourth-round pick of the Coyotes changed organizations early this season when Colorado claimed him off waivers in October. With Pavel Francouz sidelined with a groin injury that forced his retirement, it marked his first shot at a full-time backup gig after four seasons in minor league roles in Arizona. 

He made eight starts and three relief appearances in limited action across the first few months of the campaign, both career highs. He didn’t manage to move the needle much, though, recording a .895 SV% and 3.16 GAA with a 4-3-1 record. 

They weren’t awful numbers, but not enough to keep him in the majors ahead of higher-ceiling (and younger) prospect Justus Annunen, who’s since secured a roster spot alongside Alexandar Georgiev entering postseason play.

Prosvetov spent most of his junior career in North America, last suiting up in league play in Russia at the U-17 level eight years ago. He’ll likely be the starter for CSKA, filling the role vacated by Flyers netminder Ivan Fedotov when the Russian side terminated his contract a few weeks back. A three-year deal would keep him in the country’s capital through 2026-27.