Avalanche's Francouz will miss entire season with lower-body injury

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Pavel Francouz won't play in the 2023-24 season due to a lower-body injury, the team announced Sunday.

Francouz underwent adductor surgery in the offseason and has not played a game since. The 33-year-old is in the final year of a contract with a $2-million cap hit.

The Czechia native played 16 games for the Avalanche last season, posting an 8-7-1 record with a .915 save percentage.

Across parts of four NHL seasons, all with Colorado, Francouz holds a 44-21-6 record and a career .919 SV% in 73 contests.

The Avalanche claimed Ivan Prosvetov off waivers from the Arizona Coyotes before the start of the campaign amid concerns over Francouz's health. The 24-year-old has appeared in four games with the Avalanche and has a .899 SV%.

Starter Alexandar Georgiev has struggled of late, allowing three or more goals in each of his last seven games. He has a .887 SV% in 11 appearances this season after impressing with a .919 SV% in 62 contests a year ago.

The Avalanche are second in the Central Division with an 8-5-0 record.

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