Avalanche sign KHL G Ilya Nabokov to entry-level deal

Field Level Media|published: Fri 30th May, 17:42 2025

NHL: Colorado Avalanche at Montreal Canadiens

Mar 22, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; View of a Colorado Avalanche logo on ajersey worn by a member of the team at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The Colorado Avalanche signed goaltender Ilya Nabokov to a two-year entry-level contract on Friday.

The Russian spent the past two-plus years with the KHL's Metallurg Magnitogorsk and was named the KHL Rookie of the Year for the 2023-24 season.

Colorado selected him in the second round (38th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, making him the first goaltender picked that year.

The Avs experienced a season of transition at the goaltender position in 2024-25. They traded Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen less than two months into the season and acquired Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood; six players in all made at least one start between the pipes for Colorado.

--Field Level Media