Ivan Prosvetov is off to a 5-0-0 start with the Colorado Eagles and was recently named AHL Player of the Week.
Ivan Prosvetov could not have asked for a better start to his tenure with the Colorado Eagles.
The 24-year-old, originally drafted in the fourth round, 114th overall, in the 2018 NHL Draft, spent the first handful of his professional seasons in the Arizona Coyotes organization.
Prosvetov largely saw the bulk of his time in the AHL with the Tuscon Roadrunners, with recalls to the NHL squad at various points in the season when he was needed in a backup capacity.
The Russian netminder was waived prior to the start of the 2023–24 season. The Colorado Avalanche, who lost Pavel Francouz for the year, were quick to claim Prosvetov the following day.
The young goaltender hoped that he would remain with the Coyotes organization, but he also knew there was a good chance that a team might make a waiver claim on him.
“When I got the call from (the Avalanche), for sure it was exciting,” said Prosvetov in an interview on Thursday. “I knew the organization; I knew how good they treat their players, so I was really happy.”
Coming into the organization, Prosvetov had a good understanding of what his role would be. With Alexandar Georgiev established as the clear No. 1 with the Avalanche, the Russian netminder knew that he was going to primarily be limited in a backup capacity.
Give it up for your AHL Player of the Week🤩https://t.co/QcEh9tdfhR
— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) February 19, 2024
Prosvetov made his Avalanche debut on October 26, coming on in relief of Georgiev, who had allowed four goals on 23 shots. In only 8:05 time on ice, Prosvetov stopped all five shots sent his way.
He made his first start with the Avalanche on November 1 and picked up his first win, turning aside 27 of 28 against the St. Louis Blues. As the season progressed, though, Prosvetov played sparingly as Colorado continued to ride Georgiev, leading into the All-Star break.
Over 11 appearances at the NHL level, Prosvetov collected four wins while posting a 3.16 goals-against average and an 0.895 save percentage.
Prior to the second half, he was sent down to the Colorado Eagles of the AHL for more playing time, and the young netminder took a lot of confidence and valuable learning lessons with him.
“I kind of proved to myself that I can be their everyday goalie in the NHL,” he said. “When I was playing some games (with the Avalanche), I had some really good ones, had some wins, and those games kind of proved to me again that I can be an everyday NHL goalie.”
Having worked alongside Georgiev every day in practice for the better part of three months, Prosvetov was able to see how a successful NHL goaltender, one that almost plays on a nightly basis, handles himself off the ice, especially leading up to a game.
“If you watch him in the time when he prepares for a game, he’s really quiet; he’s in himself, and I think that’s his biggest strength is his preparation, mentally, that he’s able to get locked in like that,” Prosvetov said of Georgiev.
Joining an Eagles club very much in the thick of a playoff race mid-season, Prosvetov has incorporated many of those same mental preparations learned from his teammate at the NHL level to get locked in before games.
The results on the ice, thus far, have been nothing short of rewarding.
Through his first five starts with the Eagles, Prosvetov remains a perfect 5-0-0 to go along with a 1.60 goals-against average and a 0.952 save percentage. With three wins last week, the 24-year-old earned AHL Player of the Week honors.
Naturally, the humble Prosvetov credits his teammates in front of him playing what he described a “full puzzle,” meaning everyone on the ice is consistently working toward the same goal.
While some faces are new on Colorado’s roster this year, the young netminder had a front-row seat to see just how tough this team plays, having played in the same division the last several years.
“I think the boys are doing a really good job in front of me,” he said. “They’re working hard every night. I’m pretty sure that the Eagles are one of the hardest teams to play against in the American League.”
With a WIN in his Eagles debut, goaltender Ivan Prosvetov is your First Star of the Game standing by with @KatieFlorio!🌟 pic.twitter.com/ViqKeEdR2K
— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) February 10, 2024
Not only being a tough team to play against, but Prosvetov, who had played at Blue Arena a number of times as a member of the Tuscon Roadrunners, knows how much the Colorado Eagles thrive off the home crowd.
Following the win in his team debut, Prosvetov experienced it firsthand.
“Since my first year, (former Tuscon head coach Jay Varady) was mentioning in my first game that it’s going to be an incredible crowd up there. It’s going to be loud.
“All the boys in Tuscon back then, the veteran guys who have been in this league, said that this is one of the best buildings to play in, so obviously, it was an awesome atmosphere playing against them, but now when you have them on your side, I think the home crowd really gives you the advantage all the time.”
Chloe Wright 
C.C. Hawkley