The Avalanche officially signed their top goaltending prospect Ilya Nabokov to a two-year entry-level contract on Friday afternoon.

Drafted 38th overall in the 2024 NHL draft, Nabokov is the highest goaltender the organization has selected since 1998. He helped his KHL team Metallurg win the KHL Championship in 2024 and was named the MVP of the playoffs after posting a .942 save percentage. Nabokov also won KHL Rookie of the Year for his work in the regular season.

He followed up his rookie season with another strong year where he started 49 games and posted a .923 save percentage. The Avalanche are high on the 22-year-old netminder, but the acquisitions of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood last season will allow the young goalie to develop at his own pace.

The two-year entry-level contract runs until 2027, but the question remains as to where Nabokov will play next season. Sources tell The Denver Gazette that there’s a good chance Nabokov will be loaned back to the KHL for one more season. The goaltending coach that helped him during his rookie season is expected to return to his KHL club next season, although nothing has been made official.

Nabokov is expected to attend Colorado’s development camp which usually takes place in early July.