Season in Review: Alexandar Georgiev

Midway through last summer goaltender Alexandar Georgiev didn't know where he'd be playing hockey this season.
"It's been a long journey," Georgiev said. "It was already July and I didn't know where I would be playing. If I get a deal from the Rangers or if I'm staying in Finland."
That deal from the Rangers came on July 19, and after some action with the Rangers in preseason and a strong few months in Hartford that included a lengthy unbeaten streak, the 22-year-old found himself in New York playing for the Rangers in February.

"It's been an unreal experience if you think about where I was in the summer," Georgiev said with a laugh. "I wasn't thinking I would get 10 games by the end of the season in the National League with the Rangers. I enjoyed every single second of it. Just soaking everything in and playing my game. Now, I know I can play at that level."
Georgiev not only saw action but showed he belonged during his 10-game stint with the Blueshirts, going 4-4-1 with a 3.15 GAA and a .918 SV% with the Rangers.
The Bulgaria native admitted his season was "up and down" thanks in large part to him getting acclimated to his new surroundings.
"I just came here in good shape and tried to play good hockey from the start," said Georgiev, who finished the season with the Wolf Pack 14-13-7 with a 2.98 GAA and a .909 SV% with a pair of shutouts. "It's been up and down because there's been so many adjustments, a new league and a new country, everything is new. It's been fun to get some games in the NHL and get good playing time with the Wolf Pack."

Eric Raymond, Hartford's goaltending coach, said he and the staff were pleased with Georgiev's first season in North America. He said a big thing for Georgiev was taking things slow and not trying to do too much too quick as he got used to his new environment.
"He came here from Europe and had to adjust a bit to the North American games. We took him slowly with his tools," Raymond said. "He has tremendous tools and we worked with those and took him slowly and always kept him in his comfort zone. We went baby step by baby step. He's a guy that wants to improve, and by doing it that way, it wasn't affecting his game or his confidence."
Confidence was key for Georgiev, and he really started to feel it after midway through January when he rang off eight wins in nine games from the 19th until Feb. 9, leading to his recall to New York.
"I think for a goalie it's huge," Jed Ortmeyer, the Rangers' Director of Player Development, said of confidence for a young player. "The more confident they are, the bigger they play in net. Pucks end up hitting them when they play big and they see pucks better, they track better, they see through screen, all the little things you need to play at the highest level."
The audition on Broadway allowed Georgiev to learn alongside Henrik Lundqvist and work every day with goaltending coach Benoit Allaire, whom the young netminder praised for his upbeat attitude, especially with someone like him.
"He's such a positive person and he always tries to reinforce those positive things you do on the ice, but at the same time, trying to make adjustments to the game that can help you," Georgiev said of Allarie. "I think it helped me a lot to transition my game to North America."

For Raymond, Georgiev's promotion to the NHL was a special moment, one he watched from afar.
"It was really fun. I was really happy for him," he said. "I like all my goalies and … it becomes like they're your babies. I watched on TV and I was wishing the best for him."
With Year 1 in the books, Georgiev said he'll return to Finland to train with his former teammates and coaches for the summer before heading back across the pond for training camp in September.
He recognizes the importance of a strong offseason of training, as well as the opportunity he has to secure the backup spot in New York next season with the experience from this year carrying him into next.