Sad news! Pavel Francouz probably won’t play in the NHL anymore, confirms Avalanche general manager

Pavel Francouz has most likely finished his NHL career! Colorado Avalanche general manager Chris McFarland said this on Monday on the DNVR Avalanche podcast, revealing that the 33-year-old goalie is currently “enjoying retirement” due to a lower-body injury he suffered last season.

Francouz injury

The 2022 Stanley Cup champion from the Czech Republic hasn’t played since April 9, 2023, and underwent adductor surgery in the offseason. The Avalanche then announced on November 12, 2023 that he would not play this season. And now comes even worse news.

“Take this expression with a grain of salt, but we don’t get the impression that he’s trying to get stronger or that he’s looking to return. The injury was unfortunate, the timing was also bad. But he’s currently home and hopefully enjoying life,” McFarland said on the DNVR Avalanche podcast.

Accomplishments

In the NHL, the Frenchman has played 73 regular-season games (65 starts) with a 44-21-6 record, a 2.49 goals-per-game average and a .919 save percentage.

In the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he compiled a 6-0-0 record in an Avalanche uniform, including winning all four games against the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final.

He played one game in the Cup Final, replacing Darcy Kuemper in Game 3, in which the Avalanche lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2.

It was the second league win of his career. He celebrated his first ever in a Litvinov jersey, which was also the first in club history. Back in 2015, Verva defeated the Ocelar team from Trinec.

Colorado is one of the best teams of the current season and has been in great form in recent games. They are definitely one of the favourites to win the Stanley Cup.

The Frenchman will celebrate his 34th birthday on June 3 and, given the development of his injury, he will probably think about life after his active playing career.

Source: NHL, Colorado Avalanche, DNVR Avalanche