Avalanche sign Ilya Nabokov to two-year, entry-level contract

The Colorado Avalanche announced Friday the team had signed goaltending prospect Ilya Nabokov to a two-year, entry-level contract that will last through the 2026-27 season.

The 22-year-old Nabokov spent the 2024-25 campaign with the KHL’s Metallurg Magnitogorsk, recording a 23-17-6 record with a 2.22 goals against average (GAA) and .923 save percentage (SV%) and three shutouts. In two seasons with Metallurg, he compiled a 46-30-9 record with a .926 SV%, a 2.19 GAA and six shutouts in 93 career KHL games.

Nabokov helped Metallurg win the Gagarin Cup in 2024, posting a .942 SV%, a 1.82 GAA and four shutouts in 23 playoff games, winning playoff MVP honors.

Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis wrote this about Nabokov ahead of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft:

“As the oldest prospect in this draft class,” Ellis explains. “He brings serious potential. He was one of the KHL’s top goaltenders despite being one of the youngest starters and showed unbelievable athleticism and post-to-post movement. Scouts love his ability to move fluently in the crease, and his raw talent is going to excite quite a bit of people.”

Daily Faceoff’s Tyler Kuehl wrote this about Nabokov in 2024 after he was drafted:

“For a goaltender who isn’t the tallest, standing at six-feet-one, Nabokov makes up for it with his athletic playing style and quickness,” Kuehl wrote. “His explosive crease movement allows him to follow the play and get into position to challenge shooters, taking up as much net as possible. Playing low to the ice, he has the ability to seal up any loose holes, especially along the posts.”

The Avalanche finished the year with a 49-29-4 record and 102 points, finishing third in the Central Division. They were eliminated by the Dallas Stars in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.