PAVEL FRANCOUZ NEWS

Announces retirement Francouz (groin) announced his retirement on Friday, Brennan Vogt of The-Rink.com reports.

Impact Francouz had a tough time recovering from offseason groin surgery and was unable to play at all during the 2023-24 campaign. He returned home to his native Czechia in November and never returned. The 34-year-old netminder last played a year ago, allowing four goals on 23 shots in a 5-4 overtime win over Anaheim. Until he was injured, Francouz was sharing the top job in Colorado with Alexandar Georgiev.

APRIL 19 • ROTOWIRE

Pavel Francouz will miss rest of season with lower-body injury Francouz, who had yet to play in 2023-24, has been with the Avalanche since the 2018-19 season.

NOVEMBER 13, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Done for the year Francouz (groin) will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign.

Impact Francouz underwent surgery during the offseason but his rehab will take longer than expected. The team also announced that he'll be returning to the Czech Republic with his family. The 33-year-old is slated to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Francouz posted a 2.61 GAA and a .915 save percentage in 16 games last year.

NOVEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out indefinitely General manager Chris MacFarland said Francouz (groin) is out indefinitely in a press conference Wednesday, Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports reports.

Impact Francouz is already on long-term injured reserve, but it sounds like his absence could extend deep into the season. Ivan Prosvetov and Justus Annunen will provide depth behind starter Alexandar Georgiev, who can be expected to see a heavy workload.

OCTOBER 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Moves to LTIR Francouz (groin) was placed on long-term injured reserve Tuesday, per CapFriendly.

Impact Francouz will be required to miss at least 10 games and 24 days of the 2023-24 season due to his placement on LTIR. Still, he could be out of action beyond that period after undergoing an adductor procedure during the offseason. The Avalanche currently have Ivan Prosvetov, who was claimed off waivers from Arizona on Monday, and Justus Annunen, who was recalled from the minors Tuesday, on the roster behind No. 1 netminder Alexandar Georgiev.

OCTOBER 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not expected for regular season Colorado head coach Jared Bednar confirmed that Francouz (groin) is not expected to be ready for the regular season, Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now reports.

Impact Francouz was recently added to injured reserve, so this news should not come as a surprise. Justus Annunen is expected to start one of the final two preseason games to show he can handle the backup duties to primary goalie Alexandar Georgiev.

OCTOBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Surfaces on IR Francouz (groin) was placed on injured reserve Thursday, per CBS.

Impact Francouz is still recovering from the adductor procedure he underwent following the Avalanche's first-round playoff loss last year, and it sounds like his status for Colorado's first game of the season Oct. 11 versus LA could be in doubt. If Francouz is forced to miss time to begin the year, look for Justus Annunen to step in as Alexandar Georgiev's backup.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Start of camp in jeopardy Francouz (groin) is unlikely to be ready for the start of the Avalanche's training camp, Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now reports.

Impact Francouz, projected as Colorado's backup netminder to Alexandar Georgiev, underwent an adductor procedure in May. The report further suggests Francouz may not be ready to open the regular season. Mike Gould of Daily Faceoff reports the Avalanche are exploring the goalie market.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Undergoes adductor procedure Francouz had an adductor procedure following Colorado's first-round playoff exit, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports.

Impact According to Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland, Francouz is "expected to recover here in the near future." It sounds like Francouz should be available for training camp in the fall. The 32-year-old netminder was limited to 16 appearances during the 2022-23 season, going 8-7-1 with a 2.61 GAA and a .915 save percentage.

MAY 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Avalanche fight back for critical 5-4 OT win over Ducks

Nathan MacKinnon had two goals and an assist, scoring on the power play with 44.3 seconds left in overtime, and the Colorado Avalanche rallied for a 5-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks

APRIL 10, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gets overtime win in return Francouz (lower body) stopped 19 of 23 shots in a 5-4 overtime win over Anaheim on Sunday.

Impact Francouz was in net for the first time since Feb. 7 because of the injury. He allowed two goals in each of the second and third periods, leaving the Avalanche down 4-2 at one point. Mikko Rantanen put Colorado within one when he scored midway through the third frame, and Nathan MacKinnon took things over from there, contributing both the game-tying goal and the overtime winner. Francouz has an 8-7-1 record, 2.61 GAA and .915 save percentage in 16 contests this season. The Avalanche have one back-to-back set left versus Winnipeg on Thursday and Nashville on Friday, so Francouz might get one more start before the playoffs.

APRIL 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to start Sunday Francouz (lower body) will start in Sunday's road game against Anaheim, Kyle Fredrickson of The Denver Gazette reports.

Impact Francouz is still expected to miss Saturday's contest versus LA, but Avalanche coach Jared Bednar has already marked the goaltender's return date. Francouz, who was last in net Feb. 7, has a 7-7-1 record, 2.53 GAA and .919 save percentage in 15 appearances this season. Anaheim's as good a team as any for him to shake off the rust against, given that the Ducks have the 31st-ranked offense with 2.47 goals per game in 2022-23.

APRIL 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Drawing close to return Francouz (lower body) is getting close to returning, coach Jared Bednar told Kyle Fredrickson of The Denver Gazette on Thursday.

Impact The Avalanche are going to see how Francouz does over the next few days, but if everything goes well, then it might not be too much longer before the goaltender is available. Francouz, who last played Feb. 7, has a 7-7-1 record, 2.53 GAA and .919 save percentage in 15 contests this season. When he's ready to return, Colorado might reassign Jonas Johansson to the minors.

APRIL 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

No timetable for return Francouz (lower body) isn't expected to return Wednesday versus the Wild.

Impact Francouz has resumed skating, but there's no timetable for his return, per Avalanche coach Jared Bednar. The 32-year-old goaltender has a 7-7-1 record, 2.53 GAA and .919 save percentage in 15 contests this season. He last played Feb. 7, turning aside 36 of 38 shots in a 2-1 overtime loss to Pittsburgh. With Francouz unavailable, Jonas Johansson has been serving as Alexandar Georgiev's understudy.

MARCH 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Begins skating Francouz (lower body) skated for the first time in six days Friday, Brennan Vogt of Full Press Hockey reports.

Impact Francouz last played Feb. 7, stopping 36 shots in a 2-1 overtime loss in Pittsburgh. He is 7-7-1 with a 2.53 GAA and .919 save percentage this season. Alexandar Georgiev has established himself as the No. 1 netminder with the Avalanche, but the team could use Francouz back in action, in case of an injury to Georgiev. Consider Georgiev day-to-day at this time.

MARCH 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Avalanche look to keep win streak alive, host the Blackhawks

The Colorado Avalanche head into a matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks as winners of five games in a row

MARCH 19, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Senators host the Avalanche after Stuetzle's 2-goal game

The Ottawa Senators host the Colorado Avalanche after Tim Stützle's two-goal game against the Edmonton Oilers in the Senators' 6-3 loss

MARCH 16, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kings take win streak into game against the Avalanche

The Los Angeles Kings aim to keep their four-game win streak going when they visit the Colorado Avalanche

MARCH 8, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

San Jose visits Colorado after shootout win

The San Jose Sharks visit the Colorado Avalanche after the Sharks defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 in overtime

MARCH 7, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

No timeline for return Francouz (lower body) hasn't resumed skating yet and doesn't have a timeline for his return, Kyle Fredrickson of The Denver Gazette reports.

Impact The Avalanche initially thought Francouz would be ready after three weeks but his absence has exceeded that mark. He has posted a 7-7-1 record this season with a 2.53 GAA and a .919 save percentage. Jonas Johansson, Justus Annunen and Keith Kinkaid have been taking turns backing up Alexandar Georgiev.

MARCH 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Avalanche take winning streak into home matchup against the Devils

The Colorado Avalanche take on the New Jersey Devils with a six winning streak on the line

FEBRUARY 28, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Avalanche look to keep win streak going, host the Golden Knights

The Colorado Avalanche host the Vegas Golden Knights with a five win streak on the line

FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

No change in status Francouz (lower body) remains under the same timeline to return from injury, despite the club adding goalie Keith Kinkaid via trade from Boston, Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now r...

Impact Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said there's been no setback for Francouz when he explained the reasoning behind the acquisition of an additional goalie. He maintained the same timeline of up to four weeks but added there's no guarantee it will be exactly four weeks. Kinkaid adds a layer of insurance that already includes Justus Annunen and Jonas Johansson.

FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Avalanche host the Flames on 4-game winning streak

The Colorado Avalanche host the Calgary Flames with a four winning streak intact

FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Oilers take losing streak into game against the Avalanche

The Edmonton Oilers head into the matchup with the Colorado Avalanche as losers of three games in a row

FEBRUARY 19, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS