Mackenzie Blackwood has swiftly proven his worth as the Colorado Avalanche’s go-to goalie, securing a five-year contract extension worth $26.25 million, cementing his role for the coming seasons.
The Colorado Avalanche have made a significant move by extending Mackenzie Blackwood’s contract for five years at $26.25 million. This decision, confirmed by a person familiar with the contract who wished to remain anonymous, follows Blackwood’s impressive start with the Avalanche after being traded from San Jose on December 9. His record of 3-1, with a goals-against average of 2.03 and a .931 save percentage, underscores his immediate impact.
Avalanche’s General Manager, Chris MacFarland, expressed the team’s confidence in Blackwood’s abilities, stating, “When we acquired Mackenzie a few weeks ago, we wanted to let him get to Denver, get acclimated to his new team, new city and then in due time we’d reach out to him and his representatives…he has come in and done a great job with us in his first few starts.” With each game, Blackwood has demonstrated his potential, consistently denying adversaries more than two goals per game in his first four starts, improving his overall season record to 9-10-3.
Blackwood’s journey in the NHL has seen him evolve across several teams. Originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils as the second goalie in the 2015 draft, he spent five seasons with them before moving to his third team, the Avalanche. His career stats show an 84-92-25 record with 11 shutouts over 219 games, reflecting his extensive experience and evolving prowess as a goaltender.
The Avalanche are not only counting on Blackwood alone; they have overhauled their goaltending team by also acquiring Scott Wedgewood from Nashville. With this acquisition, they aim to stabilize their defense, which conceded 3.71 goals per game in their first 24 outings. Since welcoming Blackwood and Wedgewood, the team has seen a turnaround, narrowing their goals conceded per game to 2.45 during December, and rising in the Western Conference rankings from ninth to sixth position.
The Avalanche’s strategic acquisition and contract extension of Mackenzie Blackwood signify their confidence in his abilities as a key component in their quest for success in the NHL. With improved performances and a reinforced defensive lineup, the team is gearing up for a robust performance in the seasons ahead.
Source: Local10
