The Colorado Avalanche finally want to do something about their abysmal goaltending statistics this season. Elliotte Friedman reports that the Avalanche are trading for goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood. Blackwood has played 19 games for the San Jose Sharks this season. He has a save percentage of .910 and a goals-against average of 2.95.

Friedman then posted that Nikolai Kovalenko, Alexandar Georgiev and a second were the package back to San Jose. The Avalanche will retain 14% of Georgiev’s salary as part of the deal with San Jose.

MacKenzie Blackwood hearing in Colorado

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 9, 2024

The 27-year-old goaltender, who traded from New Jersey to San Jose on June 27, 2023, recorded his fourth career 40-save shutout about a month ago. He was only the 17th goaltender in NHL history to achieve this. Blackwood said of that game: “It’s just one of those nights where it feels easy. I don’t know why sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t, but sometimes pucks just seem like they come slowly.”

The Avs currently have Alexander Georgiev and Scott Wedgewood in goal. For a team that has playoff aspirations, neither was quite up to par. Georgiev is in his final season with UFA and receives a contract worth $3.4 million. He has played in 18 games for the Avalanche this season, posting a save percentage of .874 and a 3.38 goals against average. Wedgewood recently joined the Nashville Predators in a trade. He was solid in the three games he played, with a 1.44 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage.

More will follow

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