Avalanche sign Nikita Novosyolov, boost Eagles goaltending depth

Colorado added another name to a goaltending pipeline that is starting to look like a real organizational storyline, signing Nikita Novosyolov to a two-year entry-level contract that begins in the 2026-27 season. The 21-year-old is expected to compete for a spot with the Colorado Eagles, giving the Avalanche another young option in a system that already includes Ilya Nabokov, Isak Posch and Trent Miner.

Novosyolov arrives with production that is hard to dismiss as mere depth. The 6-foot-2, 172-pound goalie played 40 regular-season games for Gornyak-UGMK in the VHL in 2025-26 and went 22-10-8 with a 2.10 goals-against average, a .932 save percentage and three shutouts. He finished sixth in the league in wins and tied for 10th in save percentage, numbers that suggest he was doing more than just holding a roster spot.

His playoff work added another layer. Novosyolov appeared in 11 postseason games and posted a 4-7 record with a 2.76 GAA and a .924 save percentage. He also got his first three KHL games with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, a small but meaningful step into Eurasia’s top league after four seasons in the Avtomobilist system. Colorado prospect Nikita Ishimnikov has been in that same system with him since 2022-23, a detail that underscores how familiar the Avalanche are becoming with this pipeline.

The broader résumé points to a goalie who has been steady across levels. From 2023-26, Novosyolov put together a 36-15-13 VHL record with a 2.16 GAA, a .932 save percentage and six shutouts in 67 games. He also made 13 VHL playoff appearances, going 5-7 with a 2.76 GAA and a .922 save percentage, and he logged 79 regular-season games in the MHL from 2022-25 with a 39-26-7 record, a 2.34 GAA, a .925 save percentage and eight shutouts. His honors included VHL Rookie of the Month for March 2025, MHL All-Star recognition that year and MHL East Goaltender of the Month for November in the prior season.

The signing also fits a pattern. Colorado brought in Nabokov to a two-year entry-level deal on May 30, 2025 after drafting him 38th overall in 2024, the highest the Avalanche had selected a goaltender since Philippe Sauve went 38th in 1998. Adding Novosyolov now gives Colorado another long-range bet in a position where one good development year can change the entire picture, and the Eagles may be where that competition gets sharpened.