BREAKING: Colorado Avalanche sign top goalie prospect to an entry-level deal
Photo credit: KHL / Daily Faceoff
The Colorado Avalanche announced today that goaltender Ilya Nabokov has signed a two-year entry-level contract with the team, extending through the 2026-27 season.
Nabokov was chosen by the Avalanche with the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, making him the first goaltender taken in that year's draft class.
Colorado Avalanche sign top prospect goalie Ilya Nabokov.
Nabokov, 22, played the 2024-25 season with the Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL, compiling a 23-17-6 record along with a 2.22 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage, and three shutouts over 49 regular-season games. He also suited up for five playoff contests, posting a 2.13 GAA and a .920 save percentage.
"In the regular season, Nabokov ranked 14th in the league in Sv% and 11th in GAA (min 20 GP), and tied for sixth in wins. The 49 games played marked a career-high, while he matched his KHL personal best in wins and shutouts." -NHL.com
Before beginning his professional career, Nabokov spent four seasons (2019-23) with Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk in the MHL, Russia's top junior league. Over 105 regular-season games, he recorded a dominant 61-27-10 record, a 2.02 GAA, a .930 save percentage, and 14 shutouts.
"The 6-foot-1, 179-pound netminder has spent two full seasons with Metallurg, compiling a 46-30-9 record, 2.19 GAA, .926 Sv%, and six shutouts over 93 career regular-season KHL contests from 2023-25, adding one appearance in 2022-23. He was awarded Rookie of the Year in his first full season with the team, ranking sixth in the league in wins (23). The netminder helped Metallurg capture the 2024 Gagarin Cup, recording a 1.82 GAA and .942 Sv% with four shutouts in 23 postseason contests to become the youngest goaltender to win playoff MVP honors." -NHL.com
This selection marked the highest the Avalanche have taken a goaltender since they picked Philippe Sauvé 38th overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
Previously on Avalanche Insider
| POLL | ||
MAI 30 | 29 ANSWERS BREAKING: Colorado Avalanche sign top goalie prospect to an entry-level deal Do you think Avalanche goalie prospect Ilya Nabokov has a future in the NHL? | ||
| yes | 23 | 79.3 % |
| no | 6 | 20.7 % |
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