Insider Links Mackenzie Blackwood to Struggling Avalanche

It took overtime against the Anaheim Ducks (and nearly the full five minutes, at that) for the Colorado Avalanche to finally register their first win of the season after four straight losses. But struggling goaltender Alexander Georgiev still managed to post only an .850 save percentage while allowing 3 goals on just 20 shots.

Regardless of the win, the Avs have to be considering their options on what to do about their goaltending situation. With Devon Toews, Arturri Lehkonen, Jonathan Drouin, Valeri Nichushkin and Gabriel Landeskog all out, the lineup is thin already.

"Because of all their injuries, their margins (for error) are very slim right now," said Elliotte Friedman on a recent 32 Thoughts podcast. He also suggested a goaltender that Colorado could have their eye on:

I wouldn’t be surprised if (Mackenzie) Blackwood is the kind of guy they’re at least saying, ‘Okay, if we do decide to go this route, could he solve our problem?’
I find it impossible to believe they’re not at least looking at it, whether or not they actually do it.

Blackwood, however, was pulled in Friday night's 8-3 San Jose loss to the Winnipeg Jets after allowing five goals on just 18 shots. He's 0-1-2 this season with an .875 save percentage and 4.88 goals against average, and hasn't cracked the .900 Sv% mark since 2020-21. Certainly, Blackwood would probably breathe a sigh of relief to get out of San Jose and back into a competitive situation, where he got a taste of it in his last season with the New Jersey Devils in 2022-23.

The Sharks' starting netminder is in the final year of his two-year deal, with a $2.35 million cap hit.

The Sharks have top goaltending prospect Jaroslav Askarov waiting in the wings, and he already recorded a shutout in his first game in the AHL this season, a league he has dominated the past couple of years. His time to take over the Sharks' crease will come soon enough, making Blackwood expendable.