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Pavel Francouz
Pavel Francouz
Born (1990-06-03)3 June 1990,
Plzeň, Czechoslovakia
Height
Weight
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Right
NHL team
F. teams
Colorado Avalanche
HC Plzeň
HC Oceláři Třinec
HC Litvínov
Traktor Chelyabinsk
Ntl. team Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2008–present


Pavel Francouz (born 3 June 1990) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing under contract to the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career[]

Czech Republic[]

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 post-season.

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.[1] In the 2010–11 season, he was initially loaned to former 1. Liga club SK Horácká 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 in just one appearance with Třinec, allowing 4 goals against before he was replaced in the second intermission.[2]

On 9 May 2012, Francouz secured a place in the Extraliga agreeing to a contract with HC Litvínov beginning from the 2012–13 season.[3] He instantly assumed Litvínov's starting role and in 46 games repaid the club by registering the most league wins with 26 and earn recognition as the Extraliga's Best Goaltender.[4]

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.[4]

Traktor Chelyabinsk[]

After three years in Litvínov, Francouz opted to leave as a free agent and continue his career in Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) by agreeing to a three-year contract with Russian outfit, Traktor Chelyabinsk on 30 April 2015.[5] 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 post-season.[6]

In 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).[7]

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.[4] He again shared starting duties and appeared in a season high 35 games for 15 wins and for the second consecutive season led the league in SVS%. Selected to backstop the club in the post-season, and led Traktor to the Conference Finals before suffering a series defeat to eventual Champions Ak Bars Kazan.[8]

Colorado Avalanche[]

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

On July 1st, 2019 it was announced that Francouz would be the backup goalie for the upcoming season. [9]

International play[]

Francouz was first introduced to the International stage at the Junior level, competing for Czech Republic at the Division I 2008 World U18 Championships in Kazan, Russia. As the team's backup he appeared in one game, helping Czech Republic place first in Group A and return to the Top Division for the following year. He next featured for the Czechs at the 2010 World Junior Championship.

Francouz made his senior debut with the Czech Republic, competing in the 2013 World Championship. He made two relief appearances for the Czech's in a 7th-place finish. He was named to the roster of the 2014 World Championships, however failed to feature in a game before making his first full start at the 2016 World Championships.

In the 2017 World Championships he shared netminding duties with Petr Mrázek, posting a 3–1 record with a 1.49 goals against and 9.10 save percentage.[9] As an established member of the national team, Francouz was next selected to participate at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, Korea.[10] As the first choice, Francouz appeared in every game for the Czech Republic, posting a 4–2 record in helping reach the semi-finals before losing to Russia. He was unable to prevent the Czechs suffer a 4–6 defeat in the bronze medal game against Canada on 24 February 2018.[11]

On 26 April 2018, Francouz was slated to make his fifth tournament appearance with Czech Republic after he was selected for the 2018 World Championships.[12]

Personal[]

Francouz was born in Plzeň of then Czechoslovakia. He holds a pilot license, in which he uses throughout the off-season.[13]

Career statistics[]

Regular season and playoffs[]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2007–08 HC Plzeň Czech20 37 25 12 0 2163 95 4 2.64 .915 5 2 3 299 12 0 2.41 .926
2008–09 HC Plzeň Czech20 20 16 4 0 1205 35 6 1.74 .953
2008–09 HC Plzeň ELH 15 6 9 0 709 35 0 2.96 .922 5 0 2 0 156 5 1.92 .941
2008–09 SHC Klatovy Czech.2 1 0 1 0 25 4 0 9.60 .000
2009–10 HC Plzeň Czech20 6 6 0 0 360 11 0 1.83 .948 2 1 1 120 4 0 2.00 .944
2009–10 HC Plzeň ELH 8 3 5 0 469 29 0 3.71 .867
2009–10 HC Tabor Czech.1 9 5 4 0 546 22 0 2.42 .906
2009–10 SK Horácká Slavia Třebíč Czech.1 4 2 2 0 238 7 1 1.76 .948 9 5 4 553 25 0 2.71 .926
2010–11 HC Slovan Ústečtí Lvi Czech20 29 10 13 3 1527 87 0 3.42 .896
2010–11 SK Horácká Slavia Třebíč Czech.1 15 9 6 0 913 27 3 1.77 .952
2010–11 HC Slovan Ústečtí Lvi Czech.1 15 10 5 0 922 32 1 2.08 .926 10 9 1 602 18 0 1.79 .944
2011–12 HC Slovan Ústečtí Lvi Czech.1 16 12 4 0 947 28 3 1.77 .939
2011–12 HC Oceláři Třinec ELH 1 0 1 0 40 4 0 6.00 .800
2012–13 HC Litvínov ELH 46 26 20 0 2706 117 1 2.59 .920 7 3 4 440 16 2 2.18 .935
2013–14 HC Litvínov ELH 48 24 24 0 2906 98 6 2.02 .932
2014–15 HC Litvínov ELH 46 32 12 0 2711 94 7 2.08 .931 17 12 5 1045 24 4 1.38 .953
2015–16 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 18 3 7 3 787 29 0 2.21 .924
2016–17 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 30 14 9 3 1719 41 5 1.43 .953 6 2 4 335 12 0 2.15 .924
2017–18 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 35 15 11 5 1964 59 5 1.80 .946 12 6 5 696 22 0 1.90 .949
2018–19 Colorado Eagles AHL 49 27 17 3 2803 125 3 2.68 .918 4 1 3 236 13 0 3.31 .895
2018–19 Colorado Avalanche NHL 2 0 2 0 62 2 0 1.97 .943
KHL totals 83 32 27 11 4470 129 10 1.73 .945 18 8 9 1031 34 0 1.98 .943
NHL totals 2 0 2 0 62 2 0 1.97 .943

International[]

Year Team Event Result GP W L OT MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2008 Czech Republic WJC18-D1 11th 1 1 0 0 60 2 0 2.00 .895
2010 Czech Republic WJC 7th 2 0 1 0 100 8 0 4.76 .862
2013 Czech Republic WC 7th 2 0 0 0 7 0 0 0.00 1.000
2014 Czech Republic WC 4th
2016 Czech Republic WC 5th 4 4 0 0 245 10 0 2.45 .896
2017 Czech Republic WC 7th 4 3 1 0 241 6 1 1.49 .910
2018 Czech Republic OG 4th 6 4 2 0 370 14 0 2.27 .905
2018 Czech Republic WC 7th 5 4 1 0 303 12 1 2.38 .904
2019 Czech Republic WC 4th 3 2 0 0 155 2 2 0.77 .957
Junior totals 3 1 1 0 160 10 0 3.85 .882
Senior totals 24 17 4 0 1321 44 4 2.00 .910

Awards and honours[]

Award Year
Czech20
Best GAA (1.74) 2009 [14]
Best SV% (.953) 2009
Czech.1
Best GAA (1.93) 2011
Best SV% (.940) 2011
Best Playoff GAA (1.79) 2011
ELH
Best Goalie 2013, 2014
Best SV% (.931) 2014
Best Playoffs GAA (1.38) 2014
Best Playoffs SV% (.953) 2014
Playoffs MVP 2014
KHL
All-Star Game 2017 [7]
Best SV% (.953) 2017
Best SV% (.946) 2018

References[]

  1. "Ustecti lvi agree to terms with promising goaltender Pavel Francouz" (in Czech). HC Slovan Ústečtí Lvi (2010-05-13). Retrieved on 2016-04-03.
  2. "Francouz will split time between Ustecti and Trinec" (in Czech). irozhlas.cz (2011-10-11). Retrieved on 2010-10-11.
  3. "Francouz leaves Ústečtí Lvi" (in Czech). HC Slovan Ústečtí Lvi (2012-05-09). Retrieved on 2012-05-09.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Francouz chose Colorado over Nashville". eurolanche.com (2018-05-04). Retrieved on 2018-05-04.
  5. "Confirmed! Pavel Francouz departs for Chelyabinsk" (in Czech). hokej.cz (2015-04-30). Retrieved on 2015-04-30.
  6. "Traktor Chelyabinsk team statistics 2015–16". eliteprospects.com (2015-10-02). Retrieved on 2015-10-02.
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Pavel Francouz aims to be champion!". Kontinental Hockey League (2018-01-27). Retrieved on 2018-01-27.
  8. "Avalanche signs Goaltender Pavel Francouz to one-year deal". Denver Post (2018-05-02). Retrieved on 2018-05-02.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Avalanche signs Pavel Francouz". Colorado Avalanche (2018-05-02). Retrieved on 2018-05-02.
  10. Jandačova volba: Lídry pro OH Erat a Červenka, chybějí Michálek či Růžička. hokej.cz. Retrieved on 15 January 2018.
  11. "Bronze medal game summary". International Ice Hockey Federation (2018-02-24). Retrieved on 2018-02-24.
  12. Czech announce final roster for Worlds (Czech). cslh.cz (29 April 2018).
  13. "Evaluating the Pavel Francouz signing". milehighsticking.com (2018-05-05). Retrieved on 2018-05-05.
  14. "Pavel Francouz player profile". eliteprospects.com (2018-02-03). Retrieved on 2018-02-03.

External links[]


This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Pavel Francouz. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Ice Hockey Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA).


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