Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev has signed with the Buffalo Sabres

Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Alexandar Georgiev, 29, has signed a one-year, $825,000 contract, the club announced Thursday.

He began the 2024–25 season with the Colorado Avalanche before being traded to the San Jose Sharks. Between the two teams, Georgiev finished with a 15–26–4 record, a 3.71 goals-against average, and a .875 save percentage.

The late off-season signing caught many Sabres fans by surprise, especially after the team had just added goaltender Alex Lyon. However, it quickly became apparent that the move may be linked to an undisclosed injury within Buffalo’s projected tandem.

According to Matthew Fairburn, projected starting goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is dealing with what’s being described as a “tweak,” with no clear timetable for a full return.

Whether the Sabres are simply being proactive ahead of the regular season or planning to give Luukkonen time to recover remains uncertain. With training camp and preseason games around the corner, though, answers should emerge soon.

Georgiev is no stranger to having a starter position, as his first two years in Colorado were career-best campaigns. In 2022–23, he tied Linus Ullmark for the league lead with 40 wins, and in 2023–24, he topped all netminders with 38. Those standout seasons set the stage for what became a disappointing follow-up last year. 

However, a change of scenery and a winning-minded culture may provide the perfect recipe for Georgiev this season, regardless of where he begins within the organization.

Currently in Buffalo, the annual Prospect Challenge is taking place and will wrap up on Monday evening. This tournament will directly lead the Sabres into training camp, with their first official preseason matchup scheduled for a week later, on Monday, September 22, against the Columbus Blue Jackets.