Olympian Francouz makes preseason debut
Czech Republicborn goalie Pavel Francouz, who played the last three seasons for Chelyabinsk Traktor of the Russianbased Kontinental Hockey League, made his NHL preseason debut Monday night when the Avalanche played the Vegas Golden Knights at TMobile Arena.
Francouz, 28, started in net for Colorado’s third preseason game. The 2018 Olympian served as a backup and didn’t play in Saturday’s 70 loss at Minnesota.
“It’s always easier if you know you’re starting and playing the game,” Francouz said after a morning skate at the Avs’ practice facility. “Going in in the middle of the game is hard. But it’s part of the game.”
The Avs invested $690,000 in a oneway contract for Francouz, who will begin the season in the minor leagues if fellow goalies Semyon Varlamov and Philipp Grubauer remain healthy. Francouz will compete with Spencer Martin, 23, for the No. 1 job with the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League. Joe Cannata, 28, was the fifth goalie Colorado was carrying but was reassigned to the Eagles on Monday afternoon.
Cannata was the No. 1 guy for the Eagles last season, when the club was the Avs’ ECHL affiliate.
Francouz put up impressive numbers last season in the KHL, including a .946 save percentage and 1.80 goalsagainst average. Francouz reported for his first training camp in North America late last month.
“I came here pretty early, to adapt,” he said. “Now, I’m just focusing on hockey.”
Martin backed up Francouz against the Golden Knights, who defeated Colorado 51 last week at the Pepsi Center in the Avs’ preseason opener.
The rest of the Avs’ roster Monday was again dominated with youth and inexperience. Secondyear forwards J.T. Compher and Alex Kerfoot played on a line with rookie Martin Kaut, 18, and rookies Vladis lav Kamenev and Logan O’Connor played with Sheldon Dries, 24.
Only two defensemen who will make the Avs’ openingnight roster — Sam Girard and Patrik Nemeth — played Monday. Footnotes. Avs’ topline center Nathan MacKinnon came in No. 11 Sunday night on the NHL Network’s fivepart countdown series “Top 50 Players Right Now.” MacKinnon, who was runnerup to New Jersey’s Taylor Hall for the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP last season, made his debut on the annual countdown, which is in its fourth year. The NHL Network’s top10 player list will be announced in the days leading up to opening night Oct. 4. … Right winger Mikko Rantanen returned to practice Monday after suffering a minor leg injury Thursday.