Colorado Avalanche Shake Things Up: Blackwood Joins the Fold in Goalie Trade
The Colorado Avalanche, a team that entered the season as a preseason Stanley Cup favorite, now finds itself in a battle for a wild-card playoff spot. Struggling to find consistency in net, the Avs made a bold move on Monday, acquiring goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood in a trade with the San Jose Sharks.
In the deal, the Avalanche received Blackwood and forward Givani Smith, while sending goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, rookie forward Nikolai Kovalenko, a 2025 fifth-round pick, and a 2026 second-round pick to San Jose. The Avs also retained $476,000 of Georgiev’s salary as part of the trade.
Goaltending Overhaul in Full Swing
This move is just the latest in a series of changes to the Avalanche’s goaltending situation over the past 10 days. On November 30, Colorado swapped backup goaltenders with the Nashville Predators, acquiring Scott Wedgewood in exchange for Justus Annunen.
Wedgewood wasted no time making an impact, recording a 4-0 shutout against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. He also stepped in for Georgiev during a December 3 game against the Buffalo Sabres, after Georgiev allowed four goals on just eight shots. Wedgewood’s relief effort helped the Avs rally for a thrilling 5-4 win.
Why the Avalanche Needed a Change
For the 2022 Stanley Cup champions, addressing their goaltending woes has become a top priority in what has been a challenging season. Despite strong defensive metrics, the Avalanche have struggled to keep the puck out of their net. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Avs rank in the top 10 in fewest scoring chances allowed per 60 minutes and shots allowed per 60 minutes. However, their team save percentage of 88.8% is the second-lowest in the NHL.
Adding to the frustration, the Avalanche have already used four different goalies this season, and they haven’t even hit the 30-game mark. For comparison, the team needed only three goalies to get through the entirety of last season’s 82-game schedule.
What Blackwood Brings to the Table
While Mackenzie Blackwood’s 6-9-3 record and 3.00 goals-against average might not jump off the page, his .910 save percentage ranks 12th among goalies with more than 10 games played. Additionally, his 3.9 GSVA (goals saved above expected) ranks 20th in the league, showing that he has the potential to make a difference for the Avalanche.
Blackwood is in the final season of a two-year deal with an annual cap hit of $2.35 million, making him a pending unrestricted free agent. Meanwhile, Wedgewood, who has been solid since joining the team, has another year left on his contract.
Where the Teams Stand
As of Monday, the Avalanche (16-13-0) were tied with the Edmonton Oilers in points but held the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. On the other hand, the rebuilding Sharks (10-15-6) sit seven points behind the Avs and seven points ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks for the NHL’s worst record.
What’s Next for the Sharks?
For San Jose, this trade is part of a larger strategy to stockpile assets. Alexandar Georgiev, who averaged 39 wins in his first two seasons with the Avalanche, will join Vitek Vanecek in the Sharks’ goaltending tandem. Both are pending unrestricted free agents, giving the Sharks flexibility as they look to the future. The team also boasts one of the NHL’s top goalie prospects, Yaroslav Askarov, who is currently developing in the AHL.
With this trade, the Sharks now have seven pending UFAs who could be moved before the NHL trade deadline, potentially bringing in even more draft capital.
Who is Nikolai Kovalenko?
As part of the trade, the Sharks also acquired rookie forward Nikolai Kovalenko. The 25-year-old, who is the son of former NHL forward Andrei Kovalenko, came to North America last season after spending several years in the KHL in Russia. This season, Kovalenko has four goals and eight points in 28 games. He will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
With the Avalanche making bold moves to address their goaltending issues, and the Sharks continuing their rebuild, this trade could have ripple effects across the league. Only time will tell if Blackwood can help steady the ship for Colorado or if San Jose’s long-term strategy will pay off.
Originally Written by: Ryan S. Clark
