How Colorado's top prospect could make the NHL sooner than you think
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Ilya Nabokov, the Colorado Avalanche's top goaltending prospect, is positioned to accelerate his development and potentially make his NHL debut much sooner than many expect, surprising fans and experts alike.
Selected 38th overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Russian goaltender Nabokov has already secured his entry-level contract with the Avalanche.
How Colorado's top prospect could hit the nHL faster than expected.
Graham Tiedtke from Mile High Sticking writes that the Avalanche currently have two solid goalies: Mackenzie Blackwood, the undisputed starter, and Scott Wedgewood as his backup.
Both were acquired near the start of last season. Colorado locked Blackwood into a five-year extension, while Wedgewood's contract expired after the 2025-26 season, by which time he'll be 34 years old.
"Will Nabokov have had enough North American hockey experience by that time? The KHL regular season ends in March. At that point, depending on the exact date, the Avalanche will have roughly 24 games remaining in the regular season. The Colorado Eagles have 13 games scheduled in March of 2026. It's much more likely that we see Nabokov suit up in the AHL at least for this entire season, in my opinion." -Tiedtke
That would be the ideal path for the Avalanche to follow with Nabokov. The North American game game differs significantly from the KHL, with rink size being the biggest adjustment. NHL rinks measure 200 feet by 85 feet, while KHL rinks are typically larger at about 196 feet by 98 feet.
"There has been a lot of talk about the expectations with Nabokov. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar wanted to get him to North America pretty quickly.
While he's in Russia to play in the KHL again, signing him to an ELC was a huge step in his development. There's no plan for him to remain in the KHL beyond the current season, so Avalanche fans will get a good look at a potentially huge piece to the team's future." -Tiedtke
While he's in Russia to play in the KHL again, signing him to an ELC was a huge step in his development. There's no plan for him to remain in the KHL beyond the current season, so Avalanche fans will get a good look at a potentially huge piece to the team's future." -Tiedtke
Of course, no one wants to pile too much pressure on Nabokov just yet, but if he thrives under it, we could see him don an Avalanche jersey as early as the 2025-26 campaign, if not by 2026-27. Either way, Colorado hopes he'll be the long-term answer should Wedgewood depart after his deal expires.
Previously on Avalanche Insider
| POLL | ||
AOUT 3 | 31 ANSWERS How Colorado's top prospect could make the NHL sooner than you think Do you think Avalanche top goalie prospect Ilya Nabokov has a future as an NHL starter? | ||
| yes | 26 | 83.9 % |
| no | 5 | 16.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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