Alexandar Georgiev
An undrafted, Bulgarian-born goalie who broke barriers to become the first from his country to start and win games in the NHL.
Born 1996 (age 30)·Russian ice hockey player·Birthday: February 10·Millennials
Biography
Alexandar Georgiev's path to professional hockey reads like an underdog script. Born in Bulgaria to a goaltender father, he moved to Russia as a child to pursue the sport. Overlooked in every NHL draft, he honed his skills in Finnish leagues before the New York Rangers offered him a chance. In 2018, he didn't just make his debut; he seized the net, becoming the first Bulgarian-born player to appear in an NHL game. His style—athletic, competitive, and sometimes unorthodox—earned him a starting role in the hockey-mad city of New York. After a trade to the Colorado Avalanche, he evolved into a workhorse starter, backstopping a championship-caliber team with a calm that belied his journey. His career stands as a testament to the global spread of hockey talent and the power of perseverance outside the traditional draft system.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Alexandar was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alexandar Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Alexandar's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first Bulgarian-born player to play in the National Hockey League, making his debut with the New York Rangers in 2018.
- Posted a 40-16-6 record as the primary starter for the Colorado Avalanche in the 2022-23 season.
- Recorded a shutout in his first NHL start for the Rangers against the Montreal Canadiens in 2018.
- Played a key role as starting goaltender for the Avalanche following his trade from the Rangers in 2022.
Did You Know?
His father, Georgi Georgiev, was also a professional hockey goaltender and coached him in his youth.
He holds dual Russian and Bulgarian citizenship but represents Russia in international play.
He played junior hockey in Finland for TPS's system before coming to North America.
He was originally signed by the New York Rangers as an undrafted free agent in 2017.
“Every shot tells a story, and I read them all.”
