By Jordan Long
The Colorado Avalanche are 4-3 for 8 points in the early season, 4th in the West Division. Colorado is looking for a 2 game sweep of the San Jose Sharks. Colorado may have a backup goaltender problem.
The Avs starting netminder is Philipp Grubauer. He has already started 6 of Colorado’s 7 games. Grubauer is 4-2 for the Avs with a 2.17 goals against average and a save percentage of .919. Colorado knows they can trust him to stop the puck from entering the net. Grubauer also uses his glove and won’t give up many rebound chances.
The Avalanche were hoping Pavel Francouz would be his backup. Francouz proved he could handle the duties of being behind Grubauer. In his career, Francouz is 21-9-4 with a goals against average of 2.40 and a save percentage of .923. Unfortunately, Francouz hasn’t seen the ice this year. He is dealing with a lower body injury and has been placed on injured reserved. Colorado hopes Francouz can play at some point this year.
With Francouz hurt, Colorado is going with Hunter Miska as the backup goaltender. Miska isn’t a reliable backup. He suited up against the L.A. Kings a week ago for his first NHL start. He didn’t play terribly, but he wasn’t as reliable as Grubauer. He allowed 3 goals on 26 shots. Colorado lost that game 4-2.
Colorado knows to win a Stanley Cup, the backup goaltender is key. He needs to be able to come into a game and stop shots. That didn’t happen with Miska. The Avalanche may look to trade for a backup goaltender before the season is up.
The Avalanche have options if they want to trade for a reliable goaltender. They could deal for Cory Schneider or James Reimer. Both of them will be free agents at the end of the year so it would be a rental. Schneider comes at the cheaper cap hit at around $2 million. Schneider has played in the NHL for 12 years. His overall record is 170-159-58 with a goals against average of 2.43 and a save percentage of .918. He appeared in 14 playoff games but only started in 9 of them. He was a disappointing 2-6 with a goals against average of 2.35 and a save percentage of .931. He has yet to suit up this year for the Islanders.
Reimer’s cap hit is around $3.4 million. Reimer is the backup in Carolina. He has played 9 seasons in the NHL. His record is 159-126-41 with a goals against average of 2.80 and a save percentage of .914. In the postseason Reimer is 5-5 with a goals against average of 2.70 and a save percentage of .925.
Colorado is going to do what they feel is right at the backup goaltender position. They know they need a dependable backup in case something happens to Grubauer. It could be Colorado stands pat and stays with their current group.
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