With the NHL getting 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 turn into an unrestricted free agent on the finish of the season and now has discovered a everlasting dwelling 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 originally of December, MarFarland acknowledged that this was not a rental.
“We wish the participant to get settled in right here. Deal with the hockey, after which, when the time is true, we’ll definitely see if there’s one thing that may make sense,” MacFarland stated. “I’d be mendacity if I stated 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 file of 3-1 with 2.03 GAA and .931 save proportion (he received final night time and now has 1.82 GAA and .940 SV%). This season Blackwood now has a file of 10-10 with a 2.75 GAA and .917 save proportion.
As MacFarland stated in his press launch, he wished Blackwood to regulate to his local weather, unsure 4 video games is kind of sufficient, however MacFarland felt that he suits the model the Avalanche wish to play.
“After we acquired Mackenzie just a few weeks in the past, we wished 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 basic supervisor Chris MacFarland stated. “We’re thrilled to get this deal carried out now and have Mackenzie underneath contract for the following six years.
“As I stated after we acquired him, we really feel like Mackenzie has simply gotten higher and higher yearly and he has are available and carried out a fantastic job with us in his first few begins. He’s a giant physique, athletic goaltender who remains 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 properly.”
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: Might Mikko Rantanen Make Extra Than Nathan MacKinnon in Colorado?
That didn’t work out that properly 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 aim damage the Avalanche in opposition to the Dallas Stars in 2024.
This season didn’t go properly for Georgiev and thus MacFarland wanted to seek out different choices. Thus, he went and obtained Mackenzie Blackwood from San Jose. Once more, committing a few years and {dollars} to a goalie who has but to play a playoff sport is a bit dangerous.
The #GoAvsGo signed 28 y/o G Blackwood to five yr $5.25M Cap Hit extension:
Yr 1 $5.25M Wage
Yr 2 $4.25M Wage & $1M Signing Bonus
Yr 3 to five: $5.25M Wage6 Staff No Commerce Clause all through
Was pending UFA.
Rep’d by Andy Scott @OctagonHockey https://t.co/tBskDdJU3H
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) December 27, 2024
Blackwood has the expertise to be an elite goaltender, however his numbers look nice on dangerous groups. He may have been the beginning goaltender with the New Jersey Devils, however towards the top, 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, one among Blackwood or Vitek Vanecek turned expendable. Blackwood is in a scenario he likes with Colorado however will probably 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 whole lot of pictures. He received’t surrender as many dangerous objectives as Georgiev, however he provides up his justifiable share of them. Once more, each GM has their very own method of doing issues, however historical past has confirmed these five-year at $5 million AAV goalie contracts don’t age properly.
Mackenzie Blackwood is out to show the naysayers flawed and alter the cycle in Colorado. Chris MacFarland is taking an enormous gamble on Blackwood for 5 years along with his damage 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 subjects from across the league.
