Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood quickly solidified his role as a key player for the Colorado Avalanche, evidenced by a five-year $26.25 million contract extension.
The Colorado Avalanche have cemented their trust in Mackenzie Blackwood, a recent acquisition, by offering a significant contract extension. The deal, confirmed by an inside source, is valued at $26.25 million and aims to keep Blackwood as a staple of the team’s defense strategy until the conclusion of the 2029-30 season. Though the team refrained from publicly releasing the contract’s financial specifics, details were first shared by Sportsnet.ca and later verified to the Associated Press by an anonymous source.
Since his arrival from the San Jose Sharks on December 9, Blackwood has demonstrated impressive performance. Within just a few weeks, he became the Avalanche’s primary goaltender. In four starts, Blackwood has maintained a formidable record, triumphing in three games and achieving a 2.03 goals-against average alongside a .931 save percentage.
General manager Chris MacFarland shared insights on Blackwood’s value, stating, “When we acquired Mackenzie a few weeks ago, we wanted him to acclimate to his new team and environment first. He has shown consistent improvement over the years and has already had a promising start with us.” Blackwood’s physical prowess and youthful energy contribute to his growing potential, as mentioned by MacFarland.
In his debut with the Avalanche against Nashville, Blackwood displayed exceptional skill, blocking 37 shots in a 5-2 victory. This achievement made him the fourth NHL goalie to achieve such a feat in his first game with a new franchise. Throughout his career, spanning three NHL teams, Blackwood has accumulated an 84-92-25 record in 219 games, with 11 shutouts and a 3.05 goals-against average.
The Avalanche have made significant changes to their goaltending lineup this season. Besides Blackwood, the team acquired Scott Wedgewood from Nashville in late November. These strategic adjustments helped stabilize the team’s goaltending, which had been underperforming with an average of 3.71 goals allowed per game in their first 24 matches.
In trading for Blackwood, the Avalanche exchanged Alexandar Georgiev, a 2026 second-round draft pick, and forward Nikolai Kovalenko. Meanwhile, Justus Annunen was part of the deal that brought Wedgewood to the Avalanche. These trades marked a notable shift in the Avalanche’s roster dynamics, reflecting their strategic reprioritization in the current NHL season.
The Avalanche’s performance has steadily improved with Blackwood and Wedgewood as key players. The team boasts an 8-3 record in December and is now ranked sixth in the Western Conference. Their average goals allowed have decreased to 2.45 per game. This reflects a significant improvement from earlier in the season, demonstrating the positive impact of the recent roster changes.
The Colorado Avalanche’s decision to extend Mackenzie Blackwood’s contract underscores their confidence in his abilities and future contribution to the team. The strategic moves in reshaping their goaltending setup are beginning to pay off, as evidenced by their improved standings and defensive performance.
Source: News4jax
