Colorado GM Admits Pavel Francouz is Likely Done Playing Hockey

Goaltender Pavel Francouz won't play in the 2023-24 regular or post NHL season. According to the General Manager of the Colorado Avalanche, he may never play again.

Francouz won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, and was a big factor in the process. Going into the post season that year, he was considered a backup to Darcy Kuemper. However, Kuemper went down with injury in game three of the first round. Francouz played lights out in the next three series, with Kuemper returning for the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and sealing the Cup victory.

The next season, Francouz played 16 games for the Avalanche, putting up an 8-7-1 record. When the off season hit, it was announced that Francouz had undergone surgery on his groin and would not be with the team for the start of the season. In November, it was announced that Avalanche goalie Pavel Francouz will miss rest of season with lower-body injury. In a new interview, Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland said he is unlikely to ever return.





A very tough blow for Francouz and his teammates. That said, the Czech netminder, who is 33, didn't come to the NHL until late in his career after playing at home and the KHL for years. Despite being mostly a backup netminder with the Colorado Avalanche, he has his named etched on hockey's greatest prize, and can say he actually played a major role for his team. According to CapFriendly, Francouz has career earnings of close to $8 million dollars in the NHL.