Rangers trade Georgiev to Avalanche

The New York Rangers have traded goaltender Alexandar Georgiev to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for 2022 and 2023 third-round picks and a 2022 fifth-rounder, the team announced.

Georgiev posted a career-worst .898 save percentage in 33 games with the Rangers last season while backing up Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin. The 26-year-old owns a .908 save percentage in 129 appearances over his five-year career.

Darcy Kuemper, who helped lead the Avalanche to the 2022 Stanley Cup, will now test free agency, as the club didn't have the cap space to keep him, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Georgiev projects to share the Colorado crease with Pavel Francouz next season. In fact, Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said during the first round of Thursday's draft that he acquired Georgiev to be the team's No. 1 goalie, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.

However, Colorado will need to sign Georgiev first. The Bulgarian backstop is a restricted free agent that carries a qualifying offer of $2.65 million. He can become a UFA in 2023.

The Avalanche currently don't own a draft pick until the sixth round.