The Colorado Avalanche has signed its top goaltending prospect to his first NHL contract.
Ilya Nabokov, the club’s first selection in the 2024 NHL draft, signed a two-year, entry-level deal Friday. Nabokov, who turned 22 years old in March, has been one of the top goaltenders in the KHL over the past two seasons.
He helped Metallurg Magnitogorsk capture the Gagarin Cup in 2024, earning league rookie of the year and playoff MVP honors. That persuaded the Avalanche to select Nabokov in the second round with the 38th pick of the draft after he had been passed over previously.
Nabokov is listed at 6-foot-1 and 179 pounds. That’s on the smaller side for modern NHL goalies, which partly explains how he didn’t get drafted until he was 21 years old.
Since drafting Nabokov, the Avs have traded for NHL veterans Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood. Colorado has Blackwood under contract for the next five seasons, but 2025-26 is the final year of Wedgewood’s pact.
It is possible that Colorado will loan Nabokov back to his KHL club for next season, and then he’d have a chance to replace Wedgewood for the 2026-27 season. The Avs also have Eagles goaltenders Trent Miner and Kevin Mandolese under team control for next season, though both are restricted free agents.
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