Avalanche signs goaltending prospect Ilya Nabokov to NHL contract

The Colorado Avalanche has signed its top goaltending prospect to his first NHL contract.

Ilya Nabokov, the club’s first selection in the 2024 NHL draft, signed a two-year, entry-level deal Friday. Nabokov, who turned 22 years old in March, has been one of the top goaltenders in the KHL over the past two seasons.

He helped Metallurg Magnitogorsk capture the Gagarin Cup in 2024, earning league rookie of the year and playoff MVP honors. That persuaded the Avalanche to select Nabokov in the second round with the 38th pick of the draft after he had been passed over previously.

Nabokov is listed at 6-foot-1 and 179 pounds. That’s on the smaller side for modern NHL goalies, which partly explains how he didn’t get drafted until he was 21 years old.