Stanley Cup-winning goalie Pavel Francouz joins Avalanche scouting department

One door closed for Pavel Francouz.

Another door opened.

The now-former Avalanche goaltender retired from playing after the 2022-23 season with numerous injuries. But he still had more to give. The Avs front office asked Francouz to help their goaltender scouting department for the 2024 NHL draft. Francouz accepted.

On Wednesday, to begin Avalanche development camp, he joined the coaching staff. A spot opened up when Colorado Eagles (AHL) goalies coach Peter Budaj stepped down earlier this summer.

“Even when I was on the bench, I would look at other goalies. I feel like that kind of trained my eye,” Francouz said. “That kind of makes things easier for you because you know what the goalie does. What are his strengths? You’re trying to predict their future.”

Francouz was an integral part of the Avalanche’s 2021-22 championship season. He appeared in six postseason games in relief of Darcy Kuemper (eye injury) and went 6-0-0 with a .906 save percentage. General manager Chris MacFarland said previously the Avalanche were “spoiled” with Francouz as “one of the best backups in the league” over his four seasons in Colorado.

Francouz, 34, last played for the Avalanche late in the 2022-23 season. He finished that campaign with a .915 save percentage over 16 starts. Francouz made 46 saves in a brilliant road performance against the Carolina Hurricanes. But he struggled to stay healthy.

“I feel like the injuries were kind of creeping on me. Slowly. It was the hips and then the groin. My back was bothering me for a while, too. I feel like I was kind of falling apart,” Francouz said. “But the main cause was my knee. It was something I was dealing with for a longer time. It just got to the point where every time I would do something, it would get swollen or really painful. And nothing was helping.

“We knew it was cartilage damage. There’s not much you can do about it. I just realized, this time, I’m going to listen to the body and just do what needs to be done.”

The Avalanche selected three goalies in the 2024 NHL draft; Ilya Nabokov (No. 38/2nd), Louka Cloutier (No. 132/5th) and Omskie Yastreby (No. 137/5th). Cloutier participated Wednesday at development camp practice.

“I’ve seen tons of video on (Cloutier), and I feel like I know him better than his parents,” Francouz said. “He is a really young goalie. The basics he has in his game are already really strong, and he has a good pathway going to college (Nebraska Omaha). We think if he keeps developing the way he is, he could be a really good goalie in the future."

Colorado invited four additional goaltenders — including University of Denver national champion Matt Davis — who embraced a chance to learn from Francouz at the opening practice of development camp.

“It’s unbelievable,” Davis said. “He’s been in the shoes that you want to walk in someday. … I just try to be a sponge whenever he’s talking.”

Francouz declined to speculate on his long-term plans either scouting or coaching in the NHL. He said: “I’m just enjoying where I am now.” Yet Francouz is clear in his Avs appreciation.

“It was the best time, to be honest,” Francouz said. “I feel like my career was kind of taking small steps. I established myself in Czech league, went to KHL, and kind of started over. Same thing happened here in North America. But I would never dream about playing with such good players and winning a Stanley Cup.

“It was the ultimate dream.”