Blackwood Entering "His Superstar Years", Avalanche Already Thinking Extension

The Colorado Avalanche are a Stanley Cup contender, and have been ever since their last Cup triumph in 2022. But their goaltending has been what's been holding them back. Monday's big trade with the San Jose Sharks for Mackenzie Blackwood could be the turning point.

The 28-year-old has had a good career, but has never broken through to star level. In Colorado, that may change. As Jesse Granger writes in The Athletic, "This feels like the perfect landing spot for an ultra-talented goalie hoping to reach his potential."

Retired NHL goalie Eddie Läck, a former crease partner of Blackwood in the AHL, even says, “He’s the right age. He is coming into his superstar years now.”

That's what the Avalanche are hoping, as general manager Chris MacFarland is already thinking long-term, saying “We believe there’s some untapped potential in him as he’s growing as a goaltender. … He’s a big body. He’s athletic. We think he’s stylistically going to play really well with how we play.”

MacFarland adds that he is already thinking extension for pending UFA Blackwood, whose 2-year, $2.35M AAV contract expires after this season.

I’d be lying to you if I said we’re acquiring him for (just) four months of hockey, but (first) we’ll let him do his thing (and get settled in).

The sizeable Blackwood (6'4", 225 pounds), has compiled a .904 save percentage and 3.07 goals against average in 215 NHL games over his seven seasons (including this one) in the league. He even managed a .902 Sv% behind the porous defense of the Sharks the past two years.

In his last start with San Jose, this past Saturday, all he did was turn away 51 of 54 shots from the Florida Panthers.