As part of the deal announced Monday – on Blackwood’s 28th birthday – the Avalanche also acquired forward Givani Smith along with San Jose’s fifth-round pick in 2027. The Sharks received forward Nikolai Kovalenko and two draft picks – a fifth-round pick in 2025 and a second-round pick. Pick in 2026.

Colorado is keeping 14 percent of Georgiev’s contract, which is about $476,000. He was in the final season of a three-year, $10.2 million contract.

The 28-year-old Georgiev started the season slowly and even spent some time on the bench. He is 8-7 with a goals-against average of 3.38 and a save percentage of .874.

Georgiev was acquired from Colorado on July 7, 2022 in a deal with the New York Rangers. A year ago, he reached the NHL All-Star Game in a season in which he finished as the league leader in wins with 38. He finished 86-41-11 in an Avalanche jumper.

Blackwood also got off to a slow start with a record of 0-2-2. But he has a goals-against average of 2.72 and a save percentage of .916 in his last 14 appearances. On October 22, Blackwood celebrated his 200th career game by stopping 37 of 39 shots in a 3-1 loss to Anaheim.

The Sharks initially acquired Blackwood from New Jersey in 2023 for a sixth-round pick. By trading Blackwood to the Avalanche, the Sharks were able to gain a valuable prospect in Kovalenko and future assets in the draft.

Kovalenko is a rookie this season and has four goals and four assists in 28 games. He currently ranks ninth in goals among first-year players. The 25-year-old Kovalenko made his NHL debut in Game 4 of Colorado’s first-round playoff series last season. He became the sixth player in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history to make his NHL debut in the playoffs.

Smith has played in six games for San Jose this season. The 26-year-old was originally selected by Detroit in the second round of the 2016 draft.