Pavel Francouz

Pavel Francouz (born 3 June 1990) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Francouz won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022.

Francouz first played at the junior level within the ranks of hometown club, HC Plzeň.

As a 15-year-old he backstopped the club's under-18 team in the 2005–06 season posting sub 2.00 GAA.

In the following 2006–07 season he led the league with 25 wins.

In the 2007–08 season, Francouz assumed the starting goaltender position at the highest junior level in the Czech Republic at the under-20 league.

He recorded 25 wins in 37 games to lead the club into the postseason.

Having signed a first team contract with HC Plzeň, Francouz made his professional debut in the Czech Extraliga during the 2008–09 season.

In 15 games he collected 6 wins with a solid SV% of .922.

At the under-20 level he finished the season with the League's best statistics in all categories.

Francouz spent the next 2009–10 season continuing his development, appearing in 8 Extraliga games, while also playing in the Czech 1. Liga on loan to HC Tabor and SK Horácká Slavia Třebíč.

On 13 May 2010, in order to earn more experience professionally, Francouz left Plzeň to sign a contract with HC Slovan Ústečtí Lvi of the Czech 1.

Liga.

In the 2010–11 season, he was initially loaned to former 1.

Liga club SK Horácká slavia Třebíč before splitting the year in making an impact with his new club Ústečtí Lvi, posting the best GAA and SV% in the League and leading Slovan Ústečtí Lvi to the championship.

During his second season with Ústečtí in 2011–12, Francouz strong play was rewarded as he was loaned and trained with HC Oceláři Třinec.

He made just one appearance with Třinec, allowing 4 goals against before he was replaced in the second intermission.

On 9 May 2012, Francouz secured a place in the Extraliga agreeing to a contract with HC Litvínov beginning from the 2012–13 season.

He instantly assumed Litvínov's starting role and in 46 games repaid the club by registering the most league wins with 26 and earned recognition as the Extraliga's Best Goaltender.

In the 2014–15 season, Francouz through 46 games cemented his status as the best Goaltender in the Czech Republic, leading the league in most statistical categories, to earn the MVP award of both regular season and playoffs as Litvínov claimed the Championship.

After three years in Litvínov, Francouz opted to leave as a free agent and continue his career in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) by agreeing to a three-year contract with Russian outfit Traktor Chelyabinsk on 30 April 2015.

In his first season with Traktor in 2015–16, Francouz assumed backup duties to Vasili Demchenko.

He posted a .924 save percentage despite collecting just 3 wins in 18 games as Chelyabinsk missed the postseason.

The following 2016–17 season, Francouz shared the starting role with Demchenko after initially earning KHL player of the week honors (30 October).

He continued his strong play earning a selection to the 2017 All-Star Game.

In 30 games with Traktor, Francouz accumulated 14 wins and finished the year with the KHL's best SVS% (.953).

Despite lucrative contract offers and interest, Francouz was not released from the final year of his contract and remained in Traktor for the 2017–18 season.

He again shared starting duties and appeared in a season high 35 games with 15 wins, and for the second consecutive season led the league in SVS%.

Selected to backstop the club in the postseason, and led Traktor to the Conference Finals before suffering a series defeat to eventual Champions Ak Bars Kazan.

Francouz signed a one-year, one-way deal of $690,000 with the Colorado Avalanche on 2 May 2018.

After attending his first training camp with the Avalanche, Francouz was assigned to begin his first North American season in 2018–19 with American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Colorado Eagles.

In transitioning to the smaller rink size, Francouz quickly adapted and registered 6 wins through his first 7 games with the Eagles, earning the starting role.

He received his first call-up to the Avalanche on 22 December 2018, and immediately made his NHL debut, relieving Philipp Grubauer in a defeat against the Arizona Coyotes.

Returning to the Eagles, Francouz was recalled for a second time and made a second consecutive appearance in relief stepping in against the San Jose Sharks on 1 January 2019.

He returned to the AHL and was named in the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic before missing it due to injury.

He led the Eagles to the postseason with a 27–17–3 record, finishing third in league wins and leading the AHL in saves.

In the playoffs, Francouz started all four contests with the Eagles (posting 1 win), yet unable to help advance past the first-round.

Joining the Avalanche's extended squad for their postseason run, Francouz was later re-signed to a one-year, $950,000 contract extension on 25 May 2019.

With the departure of longtime Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov in the off-season, Francouz assumed the backup duties for Colorado leading into the 2019–20 season.

He became the first Avalanche goaltender since Vitali Kolesnik in 2005, to collect his first win in his first NHL start, backstopping a 3–2 overtime victory over the Arizona Coyotes on 12 October 2019.