With the NHL coming back from its vacation break, the Colorado Avalanche introduced they’ve signed goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to a five-year contract extension that carries an AAV of $5.25 million.
Recall, the Avalanche simply traded for Blackwood on December ninth as GM Chris MacFarland overhauled his staff’s goaltending. He first traded for Scott Wedgewood from the Nashville Predators. Then he traded Alexandar Georgiev to San Jose for Blackwood.
NHL Commerce: Colorado Avalanche Purchase Mackenzie Blackwood from San Jose
As NHLRumors.com has documented, the Avalanche have been eyeing Blackwood because the begin of the season. Blackwood was set to change into an unrestricted free agent on the finish of the season and now has discovered a everlasting house with the Avalanche.
MacKenzie Blackwood, signed to a 5x$5.3M extension by COL, is a goalie. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/5IlMwU4sWI
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) December 27, 2024
After the commerce firstly of December, MarFarland said that this was not a rental.
“We wish the participant to get settled in right here. Concentrate on the hockey, after which, when the time is true, we’ll definitely see if there’s one thing that may make sense,” MacFarland mentioned. “I’d be mendacity if I mentioned we’re buying him for 4 months of hockey.”
NHL Rumors: Colorado Avalanche, and the San Jose Sharks
Effectively, after 4 video games with the Avalanche, MacFarland is committing a complete of six years to Blackwood. In these 4 video games, he has a report of 3-1 with 2.03 GAA and .931 save share (he received final evening and now has 1.82 GAA and .940 SV%). This season Blackwood now has a report of 10-10 with a 2.75 GAA and .917 save share.
As MacFarland said in his press release, he needed Blackwood to regulate to his local weather, undecided 4 video games is sort of sufficient, however MacFarland felt that he matches the type the Avalanche wish to play.
“Once we acquired Mackenzie a couple of weeks in the past, we needed to let him get to Denver, get acclimated to his new staff, new metropolis after which in due time we’d attain out to him and his representatives,” Avalanche normal supervisor Chris MacFarland mentioned. “We’re thrilled to get this deal carried out now and have Mackenzie below contract for the subsequent six years.
“As I mentioned once we acquired him, we really feel like Mackenzie has simply gotten higher and higher yearly and he has are available and carried out an amazing job with us in his first few begins. He’s an enormous physique, athletic goaltender who continues to be younger and nonetheless rising as a goaltender. Stylistically, he has match rather well with how we play and has been an ideal slot in our dressing room as nicely.”
This is likely to be a cautionary story for the Avalanche. Keep in mind the Avalanche traded for the New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev after they received the Stanley Cup in 2022. Colorado moved on from Darcy Kuemper and went with an unproven goaltender.
NHL Rumors: May Mikko Rantanen Make Extra Than Nathan MacKinnon in Colorado?
That didn’t work out that nicely for the Avalanche and Georgiev. Sure, Georgiev led the league with 38 wins, however he couldn’t assist the Avalanche obtain success within the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He was the rationale the Seattle Kraken beat Colorado in 2023, and although he discovered his kind, the mushy purpose harm the Avalanche in opposition to the Dallas Stars in 2024.
This season didn’t go nicely for Georgiev and thus MacFarland wanted to seek out various choices. Thus, he went and received Mackenzie Blackwood from San Jose. Once more, committing a few years and {dollars} to a goalie who has but to play a playoff recreation is a bit dangerous.
The #GoAvsGo signed 28 y/o G Blackwood to five 12 months $5.25M Cap Hit extension:
12 months 1 $5.25M Wage
12 months 2 $4.25M Wage & $1M Signing Bonus
12 months 3 to five: $5.25M Wage6 Staff No Commerce Clause all through
Was pending UFA.
Rep’d by Andy Scott @OctagonHockey
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) December 27, 2024
Blackwood has the expertise to be an elite goaltender, however his numbers look nice on unhealthy groups. He may have been the beginning goaltender with the New Jersey Devils, however towards the tip, he had a falling out with them. Then in San Jose, Blackwood confirmed the potential to develop with a younger staff.
As soon as San Jose acquired Yaroslav Askarov from the Nashville Predators, considered one of Blackwood or Vitek Vanecek turned expendable. Blackwood is in a state of affairs he likes with Colorado however might be out to show he can get it carried out with a playoff caliber staff.
NHL Rumors: Colorado Avalanche, and the San Jose Sharks
Blackwood’s numbers look nice when he faces a number of photographs. He received’t quit as many unhealthy objectives as Georgiev, however he offers up his fair proportion of them. Once more, each GM has their very own manner of doing issues, however historical past has confirmed these five-year at $5 million AAV goalie contracts don’t age nicely.
Mackenzie Blackwood is out to show the naysayers improper and alter the cycle in Colorado. Chris MacFarland is taking an enormous gamble on Blackwood for 5 years along with his harm historical past, let’s see if the danger is well worth the reward.
Have you ever subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s new and we’re simply getting began. Rumor roundups and sizzling matters from across the league.
