Connor McDavid was stopped nine times by Alexandar Georgiev in the 2024 All-Star Skills Challenge.

What happened?

Georgiev earned $100,000 for his performance, stopping nine of 12 attempts from McDavid in a minute-long showdown.

McDavid joked that Georgiev “had my number” in the event.

This was a highlight in Georgiev's career, but his performance declined sharply after that.

Why it matters for Connor McDavid

The event showcased Georgiev's skills, but also highlighted McDavid's talent as one of the NHL's best players.

Georgiev's performance against McDavid was a rare spotlight moment for him.

The two players have faced each other several times, with Georgiev trying to rebuild his value in the NHL.

What comes next?

Georgiev is now searching for an NHL contract, after terminating his deal with KHL Spartak.

He re-entered the NHL market hoping to rebuild his value, but is still without a contract four days into free agency.

Georgiev's situation is complicated, with most teams already addressing their starter or backup situations.

He posted a 2.37 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage over 24 appearances in the KHL.

This was a clear step forward from his North American struggles, but not enough to fully restore his NHL reputation.

NHL teams are weighing which version of Georgiev they would get, the 38-win starter from Colorado or the goaltender whose performance declined sharply.

The uncertainty is damaging for Georgiev, with the first wave of free agency behind us.

Georgiev's career has been marked by ups and downs, including a peak in 2023-24 when he led the NHL with 38 wins.

He also tied for the league lead in wins the season prior, briefly establishing himself as one of the league's most productive regular-season goaltenders.

But his final stretch in Colorado during the 2024-25 season unraveled quickly, finishing 8-7-0 with a 3.38 goals-against average and a .874 save percentage.

After a move to San Jose, the struggles continued over a larger sample, going 7-19-4 with a 3.88 GAA and a .875 save percentage in 31 appearances.

The downturn reshaped his market in real time, and it carried straight into his next stop.

Georgiev is trying to find a landing spot in a goaltending landscape that has already moved quickly.

And that's where the concern comes in, with Georgiev still searching for an NHL contract.