Avalanche goalie Pavel Francouz, who missed all of last season because of double hip surgeries, will begin this season on injured reserve with another lower-body ailment, the team announced Thursday.
Francouz left Tuesday’s preseason game against the Vegas Golden Knights midway through the second period. He appeared to favor his right leg when he pointed to the closest referee in hopes he would stop play. Francouz had to make a save from his knees for the stoppage.
Francouz, 31, also suffered lower-body injuries in the 2020 playoffs and finished the season on IR. He has played in just 36 NHL games after being signed out of the Kontinental Hockey League in 2018.