Colorado Avalanche Continue to Explore Goalie Market, Eyeing Mackenzie Blackwood
Despite a promising turn in their goaltending situation, the Colorado Avalanche are reportedly still exploring options in the goalie market. While Justus Annunen has stepped up as the team’s number-one netminder, and Alexandar Georgiev showed signs of improvement in his recent start, the Avalanche are not ruling out adding another goaltender to solidify their crease for the rest of the season.
Annunen, in his eight appearances this season, has posted five wins, a 2.64 goals-against average (GAA), and an .894 save percentage (SV%), not remarkable but a strong recovery after a rough start to the campaign. Georgiev, who struggled early in the season, showed his potential in a tight 1-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, though questions about his consistency remain.
In addition to Annunen and Georgiev, the Avalanche have Kaapo Kahkonen in the fold, brought in for depth and insurance. However, despite his arrival, Kahkonen hasn’t provided the definitive solution the team was hoping for.
This brings the Avalanche to the goalie market, where they’ve reportedly been keeping an eye on potential targets. One name that stands out is Mackenzie Blackwood of the San Jose Sharks. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Avalanche have had interest in Blackwood for some time, dating back to the trade deadline last season. However, a trade has yet to materialize.
Adding further complexity to the situation, the Sharks recently traded for top goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov from the Nashville Predators, positioning him as their future in net. Askarov’s arrival could make Blackwood expendable, and the Avalanche could be in a prime position to acquire him at a reasonable price.
A potential trade for Blackwood would provide the Avalanche with a solid tandem partner for Annunen, fortifying their goaltending depth without breaking the bank. Given the uncertainty surrounding Georgiev’s form and the need for stability in net, pursuing Blackwood could be a crucial move for Colorado as they seek to maintain their competitive edge this season.
The Avalanche are at a crossroads, and ensuring their goaltending situation is solidified could be key to keeping their championship aspirations alive. With the season still young, exploring every avenue for improvement, including a potential deal for Blackwood, seems to be a prudent course of action for the team.