The Colorado Avalanche have made a decisive move by signing goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to a five-year contract worth $5.25 million per season. This announcement comes just 18 days after the Avalanche traded for Blackwood, sending previous No. 1 goalie Alexandar Georgiev along with other assets to the San Jose Sharks. Blackwood, who recently turned 28, has already made a significant impact with the Avalanche, winning three out of four games and achieving an impressive .931 save percentage in his early appearances.
Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland expressed excitement about securing Blackwood, highlighting his potential for growth and his fit within the team's playing style and locker room culture. Blackwood was originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils in 2015 and has faced challenges in his career due to injuries and inconsistency. However, he has shown resilience, notably performing well during his time with the Sharks before joining Colorado.
This contract marks a significant commitment from the Avalanche, making Blackwood the first goalie to secure a long-term deal with the team since Semyon Varlamov in 2014. The Avalanche have experienced a revolving door of goaltenders in recent years, with Georgiev filling the void left by Darcy Kuemper, who helped the team win the Stanley Cup. Alongside Blackwood, current backup Scott Wedgewood is under contract for another season, while the team has also drafted promising goalie Ilya Nabokov, indicating a strategic focus on strengthening their goaltending position for the future.
