In a stunning offseason move, the Colorado Avalanche have signed goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to a lucrative 5-year, $26.25 million contract extension. The deal comes mere weeks after the Avalanche acquired the 28-year-old netminder in a multiplayer trade with the San Jose Sharks.
Avalanche Commit to Blackwood After Brief Audition
Despite having only suited up for 4 games with the Avalanche, Blackwood clearly made a strong impression on the organization. The 6’4″ goalie posted a stellar .931 save percentage and 2.03 goals against average in his brief Colorado stint, going 3-1-0 in the process.
“We are thrilled to get this deal done now and have Mackenzie under contract for the next six years. We feel like Mackenzie has just gotten better and better every year and he has come in and done a great job with us in his first few starts.”
Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland
Reshaping the Avalanche Crease
The Blackwood signing represents the latest step in Colorado’s dramatic in-season goaltending overhaul. The Avalanche started the year with the tandem of Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen before dealing both in separate trades. Georgiev was sent to San Jose in the Blackwood deal, while Annunen was flipped to Nashville for veteran backup Scott Wedgewood.
- Dec 9: Avalanche acquire Blackwood & Kovalenko from Sharks for Georgiev
- Dec 15: Avalanche trade Annunen to Predators for Wedgewood
- Dec 27: Avalanche sign Blackwood to 5-year, $26.25M extension
Betting on Blackwood’s Upside
While Blackwood’s overall NHL numbers are solid if unspectacular (84-92-25, .908 SV%, 2.89 GAA in 219 career games), the Avalanche are clearly banking on his upward trajectory in recent years. The young goalie has improved his save percentage in each of the past 3 seasons and looks to be entering his prime.
| Season | GP | SV% |
| 2024-25* | 4 | .931 |
| 2023-24 | 45 | .914 |
| 2022-23 | 41 | .905 |
| 2021-22 | 42 | .897 |
*Avalanche stats only
“Stylistically, he has fit really well with how we play and has been a perfect fit in our dressing room as well. [Blackwood] is a big body, athletic goaltender who is still young and still growing.”
Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland
The Pressure is On
With his big new contract kicking in next season, all eyes will be on Blackwood to see if he can live up to the hefty $5.25 million cap hit. The Avalanche are in win-now mode and need the 28-year-old to solidify their crease for the foreseeable future.
If Blackwood falters, his contract could quickly become an anchor weighing down a Colorado team with several other highly-paid stars like Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar. But if he continues his upward trajectory and becomes a stabilizing force in net, the Avalanche will feel very good about their investment and long-term outlook between the pipes.
