After the NHL's trade deadline, the Colorado Avalanche's prospect pipeline is still mostly intact. The Avs only parted ways with forward prospect Max Curran in order to bring back Nazem Kadri to the main roster. However, the Avalanche's prosect pipeline is rather depleted at the moment, and with only two picks in the first three rounds of the next three drafts, the Avs will need to bank on what's already in place hitting over the next few years.
Luckily, Chris MacFarland and Co.'s eye for goalies looks to be one of their better aspects, with three prospects who could be contributing significantly to the Eagles and Avalanche in the next few years.
Ilya Nabokov
It's always a little harder than some other places to get information when talking about Russian prospects, but Ilya Nabokov and Metallurg Magnitogorsk are having a stellar season. Nabokov's sv % (.903) and GAA average (2.65)are all higher than previous years with 37 games under his belt so far this season, which is also down from his usual workload.
However, the 22-year-old netminder switched his stance in the offseason in preparation for his transition to the North American game next year, and while his individual stats are down, he and the Steelmen have secured their first Continental Cup, the KHL's equivalent of the President's trophy. Nabokov has a 22-6-5 record, and behind him Alexander Smolin is 22-8-2 as Magnitogorsk hopes to find postseason success and win the Gagarin Cup as they did in 2024. Nabokov signed his ELC with Colorado last year, so he should be coming to join the Eagles at the beginning of next season at the latest.
Isak Posch
The Avalanche signed the undrafted Posch last summer after a two year career at St. Cloud University in a deal that flew under the radar for many. Posch left St. Cloud with a 17-16-2 record, a .915 sv%, and a 2.60 GAA in 36 NCAA games over his two years there, along with three shutouts. This year, Posch has been thrust into the starters' net more than many would have expected, but he has shouldered the burden.
Posch has played more games for the Avalanche's affiliate than any of their other netminders this season, and that includes Trent Miner, who has been with the organization for five years. The 23-year-old from Umea, Sweden, currently sports an .895 sv % and 2.66 GAA and a 15-7-7 record in his AHL rookie campaign. Posch was even called up for a game with the Avalanche as their goaltending injuries mounted, though he ultimately did not have to take the ice. Posch and Nabokov could be competing for starts at this time next year, and with the inconsistency the Avalanche have experienced in net this year (due to several factors), having as many solid prospects in the pipeline between the pipes can only be a good thing.
Luka Cloutier
Cloutier was drafted by the Avs in the fourth round two years ago, and after a spending his draft +1 year in the USHL, he's made the transition to playing college hockey at Boston College. The Canadian netminder has been backstopping a BC squad hoping to make the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year. With a 2.29 GAA and .912 GAA and 19-12-1 record across his 32 starts, Cloutier's been one of the better pieces on the team even in his freshman season.
At just 19-years-old, Cloutier is still far out from any NHL ice time, but he's collected four shutouts and was recently named Hockey East Goalie of the Week as the team vies for a title berth. Cloutier should be interesting to watch as he develops in college over the next couple of years, and as a fourth round pick, would be a real value if he ends up seeing NHL ice time.
With Mackenzie Blackwood signed for the next four years, and Scott Wedgewood for the next two, the Avs are set for the foreseeable future as they make their all in pushes for the Stanley Cup. However, as seen by the amount of starts Trent Miner got for the team at the beginning of the season, it's never a bad thing to have a few good goalies in your back pocket.