Avalanche acquire Mackenzie Blackwood in trade with Sharks - ESPN

The Colorado Avalanche, a preseason Stanley Cup favorite now fighting for a wild-card playoff spot as they seek consistency in net, acquired goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on Monday.

The Avs received Blackwood and forward Givani Smith from the Sharks in exchange for goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, rookie forward Nikolai Kovalenko, a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick. The Avs also retained $476,000 of Georgiev's salary.

Blackwood's arrival is the latest development for a front office that has revamped its goalie tandem over the past 10 days. Colorado swapped backup goaltenders with the Nashville Predators on Nov. 30, picking up Scott Wedgewood in exchange for Justus Annunen.

Wedgewood recorded a 4-0 shutout against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. He also relieved Georgiev, who gave up four goals on eight shots, as the Avs rallied to a 5-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 3.

Figuring how the Avalanche would address their goaltending became a priority in what has become a trying season at times for the 2022 Stanley Cup champions.

What made the need to solve their goaltending crisis even more vital was the disconnect from their defensive metrics. Natural Stat Trick's data shows the Avs are in the top 10 in fewest scoring chances allowed per 60 and shots allowed per 60 while having the NHL's second-lowest team save percentage at 88.8%.

That save percentage was further compounded because the Avalanche had already used four different goalies before the team's 30th game. Last season, the Avs needed only three goalies to get through an 82-game season.

Although Blackwood has a 6-9-3 record with a 3.00 goals-against average, he does have a .910 save percentage, which ranks