A prominent NHL goaltender's career reportedly comes to an end: En route to Russia

It looks like the NHL career of goaltender Alexander Georgiev could very well be coming to a close.

A rumor was recently posted on X indicating that Georgiev plans on returning to his native Russia to play in the KHL and that his playing rights are still held by HC Spartak Moscow.

Georgiev was once seen as one of the rising talented goaltenders in the NHL, but his stats have dropped off, and he's played for 3 teams now since the beginning of last season.

Never drafted into the NHL, Georgiev instead signed a 3-year entry-level contract with the New York Rangers after impressing during their development camp in 2017.

He also had a highly publicized incident with teammate Tony DeAngelo in the Rangers locker room following a game.

His rights were then traded to the Colorado Avalanche for 3rd-round and 5th-round picks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and a 3rd-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Georgiev replaced Darcy Kuemper in goal for the Avalanche, who had just won the Stanley Cup. He helped bring the Avalanche back to the playoffs in each of his opening 2 years with the team, but they didn't get past the WCQF.

After struggling last year, he was traded to the San Jose Sharks for MacKenzie Blackwood, who was then signed to a multi-year contract to become the Avalanche starter.

Georgiev was told he was not going to be re-signed by the Sharks, and he signed a 1-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres.