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Tag: Goalie
Oilers sign U Sports goalie to serve as backup vs. Kraken after birth of Skinner’s child
Monday is shaping up to be a memorable night for a pair of Edmonton-based netminders.
The Edmonton Oilers announced that they have signed University of Alberta goaltender Tyler Palmer to an amateur tryout, and that the U Sports standout will serve as the team’s backup as they host the Seattle Kraken.
The Oilers are in need of a new face on the bench, as regular starter Stuart Skinner will be away from the team after the birth of a baby boy earlier in the day.
Calvin Pickard will get the start between the pipes, but it will surely be a special experience for Palmer to join the Oilers.
Palmer is in his first year with the Golden Bears after playing four WHL seasons with the Victoria Royals and Everett Silvertips. The Fernie, B.C. native holds an 11-4 record with a .914 save percentage and 2.14 goals-against average for the UofA in 17 games this season.
The Golden Bears currently sit second in the Canada West’s East Division with an 18-6-0 record.
You can watch as the Oilers welcome Connor McDavid back to the ice on Monday night on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+. Puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. MT.
The Edmonton Oilers have made a surprising move ahead of their game against the Seattle Kraken, signing U Sports goalie to serve as backup after Stuart Skinner was granted paternity leave following the birth of his child. This marks a unique opportunity for the young goalie to make his NHL debut and provide support for the team in a crucial matchup. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story. #EdmontonOilers #NHL #SeattleKraken #GoalieDebut
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Bruins call up goalie ahead of Senators game
BOSTON — After interim coach Joe Sacco hinted that Jeremy Swayman was dealing with something health-related when he didn’t return for the third period of the Bruins’ loss to the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, Boston called up a goalie from the AHL.
The Bruins officially summoned Michael DiPietro from Providence less than three hours from the start of Boston’s game with Ottawa on Thursday at 7 p.m. at TD Garden.
Boston didn’t have a morning skate on Thursday after playing on the road Wednesday so there’s been no update on Swayman’s status.
DiPietro is 14-5-3 with a 1.95 goals against average and a .930 save percentage for Providence this season. The 25-year-old is second in the AHL in GAA and fourth in save percentage.
He was originally a third-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in 2017. This will be his first stint in the NHL.
When Swayman came out after the second period, the Bruins were down 4-1, so it seemed logical for Sacco to change goalies to give himself the option to start Swayman again at home on Thursday.
But after the game, Sacco said health was another reason for the change.
“He was dealing with something minor,” Sacco said. “We thought it would be best, with how the game was going, to get him out of there. We’ll see how he is tomorrow.”
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The Boston Bruins have announced that they have called up goaltender Jeremy Swayman ahead of their upcoming game against the Ottawa Senators. Swayman, who has been playing for the Providence Bruins in the AHL, will join the team as they look to secure a victory in their next matchup. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story. #Bruins #CallUp #JeremySwayman #Senators #NHL
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Healthy star goalie is spark Rangers need in playoff push
Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images The New York Rangers are riding a season-long eight-game point streak (5-0-3) heading into a showdown at MSG against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. New York now sits just four points out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, which is occupied (in a tie) by Ottawa and the Boston Bruins.
A key reason for the Rangers recent resurgence is the play of goalie Igor Shesterkin. In his past five games since coming off IR, Shesterkin is 4-0-1 with a shutout. He’s allowed nine goals in that span and shut out the Columbus Blue Jackets 1-0 in a game decided in the shootout Saturday.
It has been an inconsistent season overall for Shesterkin, with a 15-15-2 record, 2.87,goals-against average and .916 save percentage. However, after missing four games with an upper-body injury, Shesterkin’s been at the top of his game.
The 29-year-old goalie appears back to his early form at the start of the season, when he single-handedly won games for the Rangers. Shesterkin had a 6-3-1 record out of the gate this season, and bailed out the sloppy Rangers seemingly on as nightly basis. It appears he’s regained that stellar form, which gives the Rangers an edge to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
Related: Rangers trade rumors – Canucks ‘very motivated’ to move J.T. Miller, perhaps to East rival
Rangers did Igor Shesterkin no favors with porous defense
Brad Penner-Imagn Images When the Rangers season began to spiral in mid-November their atrocious team defense certainly took a toll on Shesterkin and backup Jonathan Quick. As the Rangers cratered in front of him, Shesterkin showed his own cracks in goal during a terrible 4-15-0 stretch for the team in November and December.
Shesterkin lost five starts in a row from No. 21 – Dec. 2, surrendering 18 goals. He allowed four goals or more eight times in November and December. He was pulled twice in a five-start span in December.
It was a terrible combination of Shesterkin not at his best playing behind a porous defense for a team who’s effort was non-existent some nights.
In the middle of this Rangers mess, Shesterkin signed a contract extension that made him highest-paid goalie in NHL history, Not the best timing.
Shesterkin sustained an upper-body injury Dec. 30 in a loss to the Florida Panthers. The Rangers began to play better in his absence, and he met their improved play with his own after returning for a thrilling 3-2 overtime win against the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 9.
Igor Shesterkin looking to copy second-half success from last season with Rangers
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Shesterkin benefited from a break last season to help reset his game. In 2023-24, he struggled in the first half with a 2.86 GAA, .899 save percentage, and zero shutouts in 32 games up until the NHL All-Star Break.
After the break, Shesterkin was arguably the best goalie in the second half of the NHL season. Shesterkin was 17-5-1 with four shutouts, a 2.20 goals-against average, and .930 save percentage in 23 games after Feb. 9.
This season, his stint on the IR appears to have served served as the needed break. Shesterkin reset mentally and physically and since returning has not lost a game in regulation.
Part of that credit goes to the defense playing better in front of him. The Rangers are more committed defensively and blocking far more shots, playing a smarter all-around game.
That’s most of the time. It wasn’t so pretty in recent overtime losses to the Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens, when the Rangers blew third-period leads with Quick in goal and allowed five goals in each loss.
But the Rangers are right back in the playoff picture. And the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as we all know, is where Shesterkin really shines.
During the Blueshirts run to the Eastern Conference Final last season, Shesterkin faced 524 shots in 16 playoff games, with the Rangers outshot in 13 of them. Yet, he helped them to within two wins of the Stanley Cup Final.
That’s the goalie they need down the stretch this season to set up another possible run in the postseason. And it’s looking like Shesterkin is finding that form again.
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The New York Rangers have found their spark in star goalie Henrik Lundqvist as they make a push for the playoffs. Lundqvist, who has been dealing with some health issues earlier in the season, has come back strong and is playing at the top of his game.With Lundqvist between the pipes, the Rangers have been able to tighten up their defense and limit opponents’ scoring opportunities. His stellar play has given the team a much-needed boost as they fight for a playoff spot.
Not only is Lundqvist making key saves, but his leadership and experience are invaluable to the team as they navigate the final stretch of the season. His presence in the net gives the Rangers confidence and stability, two crucial elements for success in the playoffs.
As the Rangers continue to battle for a playoff spot, having a healthy and in-form Lundqvist is exactly what they need to make a strong push towards the postseason. With the star goalie leading the way, the Rangers have a real shot at making a deep playoff run.
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Penguins place starting goalie Tristan Jarry on waivers
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Greg Wyshynski, Senior NHL writer
The Pittsburgh Penguins have placed starting goaltender Tristan Jarry on waivers.
General manager Kyle Dubas signed Jarry to a five-year extension in July 2023. His contract, which carries a 12-team no-trade clause, runs through 2027-28 with a salary cap hit of $5.375 million.
Jarry, 29, is 8-8-4 in 22 games this season with an .886 save percentage and a 3.31 goals-against average. He has a minus- 5.3 goals saved above expected this season per Stathletes.
Jarry has been the Penguins’ primary starting goaltender for the past four seasons. He is 144-93-29 in 279 career games for Pittsburgh beginning in 2016-17, with a .910 save percentage and a 2.75 goals-against average. But he has been particularly maligned for his playoff performances: 2-6 in eight career games, with a .891 save percentage.
The breaking point for the Penguins was Tuesday night’s 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken at home, in which they blew a third-period lead. Jarry gave up goals to Seattle defenseman Jamie Oleksiak and forward Eeli Tolvanen just 50 seconds apart. Jarry surrendered three goals on 17 shots.
Barring another move, Pittsburgh’s goaltending battery will feature veteran Alex Nedeljkovic (7-7-4, .886 save percentage in 19 games) and rookie Joel Blomqvist (3-5-0, .904 save percentage in 8 games). The Penguins have the third-worst team save percentage (.882) in the NHL, ahead of only Columbus and Philadelphia.
The Penguins have struggled to find consistency in a tightly packed Eastern Conference playoff race despite a veteran core that includes Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Pittsburgh entered Wednesday trailing Columbus by four points for the final wild-card spot in the conference, although the Blue Jackets had two games in hand.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have placed starting goalie Tristan Jarry on waivers, sparking speculation about the team’s goaltending situation. Jarry, who has been the Penguins’ primary netminder for the past few seasons, has struggled to find consistency this year, leading to the decision to place him on waivers.Many fans are wondering what this move means for the Penguins’ goaltending situation moving forward. Will Jarry be claimed by another team, or will he clear waivers and remain with the Penguins? And if he does stay in Pittsburgh, will he regain his starting role, or will he be relegated to a backup role?
The Penguins have not yet made any official statements regarding Jarry’s future with the team, but this move has certainly raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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New York Rangers Daily: Start of important stretch, Blueshirts rival places No. 1 goalie on waivers
The New York Rangers are back at it Thursday, playing their first-ever game in the Beehive State, when they visit the Utah Hockey Club.
This represents an important game and an intriguing time for the Rangers for multiple reasons.
First is to see how the Rangers rebound after blowing a late one-goal lead in the third period before losing in overtime to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. It was just last week that the Rangers bounced back nicely from a pair of blown leads and another OT defeat at the hands of the Dallas Stars. So, let’s see if they follow suit in this case.
Second is trying to put on a bow on their three-game road trip. A win Thursday, and the Rangers grab five of six points (2-0-1). Pretty darn good. A regulation loss cuts into their recent mojo and leaves them heading back to New York with just three points (1-1-1). Believe it or not, that’s a big difference.
Third, well there’s a point streak to consider. They’re 3-0-2 in the past five games, a solid building block after a terrible two-month stretch of hockey. They desperately need points, and the past two weeks have been getting points on a nightly basis.
Finally, this is the start of a crucial five-game stretch against mediocre opponents. Now keep in mind that the Rangers (20-20-3) are mediocre, too. So, there are no givens here. But these next five games — against Utah, Columbus, Montreal, Ottawa and Philadelphia — represent a huge opportunity for the Rangers to gain ground and could define their season.
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New York Rangers news
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Breaking down the positives and negatives from the Rangers’ overtime loss in Denver on Tuesday.
Braden Schneider believes there were “plenty of positives” for the Rangers to carry forward from their loss to the Avalanche.
Our John Kreiser took the opposite side, and wrote about how damaging it is for the Rangers to cough up standings points with a pair of bitter OT losses.
Remember Vitali Kravtsov? Well, the former Rangers first-round pick has finally found his footing as a pro — in the KHL.
Which players deserve to be on the Rangers quarter century team? Here’s my breakdown.
NHL news
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The Pittsburgh Penguins placed their No. 1 goalie, Tristan Jarry, on waivers. Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas says if he clears, Jarry will be sent to Wilkes Barre-Scranton in the American Hockey League. Quite a fall from grace for the two-time NHL All-Star. Colleague Dan Kingerski expertly breaks it all down at Pittsburgh Hockey Now.
Team president Cam Neely said Wednesday that the Boston Bruins “may be retooling a bit” before the NHL trade deadline March 7, as opposed to being heavy buyers. The Bruins are 3-6-1 in their past 10 games and own the first wild card in the Eastern Conference.
Speaking of trades, rumors and the upcoming deadline, Chicago Blackhawks forward Taylor Hall said he’s “ready for anything” as a pending UFA, and seems resigned to being traded.
The Winnipeg Jets acquired defenseman Isaak Phillips from the Blackhawks for minor league defenseman Dmitry Kuzmin.
John Tavares exited Toronto Maple Leafs practice early on Wednesday after getting tangled up with defenseman Chris Tanev. He’s been placed on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least a week although the consensus seems to be he’ll be out longer than that.
Sheldon Keefe returns to Toronto on Thursday for the first time since he was fired as Maple Leafs coach and subsequently took over behind the New Jersey Devils bench. “I’m excited for it,” Keefe said Wednesday.
The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-3 and Connor McDavid passed Jari Kurri for second on the Oilers all-time scoring list with 1,044 points. McDavid trails only Wayne Gretzky, who had 1,669 points with the Oilers before he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings.
The Buffalo Sabres skated to a 4-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes, though remain last in the Eastern Conference with 39 points.
Watch Ryan McLeod record his first NHL hat trick in the Sabres win.
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The New York Rangers are entering a crucial stretch of their season, with several key matchups on the horizon that could have a major impact on their playoff hopes. In a surprising move, the Blueshirts have placed their No. 1 goalie on waivers, adding to the drama surrounding the team.This decision comes as a shock to many fans and analysts, as the goalie had been a stalwart presence in net for the Rangers this season. It remains to be seen what the team’s plans are moving forward, but this move signals that changes are afoot in New York.
With a tough schedule ahead, including matchups against division rivals and top teams in the league, the Rangers will need to find a way to overcome this setback and continue their push for a playoff spot. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as the Rangers navigate this important stretch of their season.
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Rangers star goalie placed on IR ahead of game vs. Bruins (report)
The Bruins’ next opponent will be without their star goalie.
The New York Rangers placed Igor Shesterkin on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, The New York Post’s Mollie Walker reported on Tuesday. The Rangers called up goalie Louis Domingue from the Hartford Wolf Pack.
It’s unclear what the extent of Shesterkin’s injury is or when it occurred.
The Rangers host the Bruins on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
It’s been a tough season for the Rangers, who fell to 16-9-1 after Monday’s loss to the Florida Panthers. Shesterkin’s season has been forgettable thus far, though much of it can be attributed to New York’s poor play. The goalie is 1-5-0 over his last six starts with a 3.97 GAA and an .883 save percentage, and has just 11 wins in 27 starts.
Shesterkin will miss at least seven days and a minimum of four games due to being on IR, per NHL rules.
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The New York Rangers have announced that their star goalie, Igor Shesterkin, has been placed on injured reserve ahead of their upcoming game against the Boston Bruins.Shesterkin suffered a lower-body injury during the team’s last game and will be sidelined for an indefinite amount of time. This is a significant blow for the Rangers, as Shesterkin has been a key player for them this season, posting impressive numbers and helping the team climb up the standings.
With Shesterkin out, the Rangers will turn to backup goalie Alexandar Georgiev to take over the starting duties. Georgiev has been solid in relief appearances this season, but will face a tough challenge against the Bruins, who are one of the top teams in the league.
It remains to be seen how long Shesterkin will be out of action, but the Rangers will need to find a way to weather the storm without their star goalie. Stay tuned for updates on Shesterkin’s injury status and how the team fares in his absence.
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Ottawa Senators face brilliant goalie they gave away, Minnesota Wild
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SENATORS (18-15-2) at WILD (22-10-4)
Sunday, 8 p.m. Xcel Energy Center
TV: TSN5 Radio: TSN 1200
Odds: OTT +120 MIN -165
THE MOMENTUM SWING
Through the Christmas break, the Senators were tied with the Boston Bruins for the best record in the National Hockey League in December, with an 8-2-1 record.
Putting aside setbacks in their past two games (4-2 Saturday in Winnipeg was the latest), it has been a big turnaround from a season ago, when head coach D.J. Smith was fired with his team in the middle of a six-game losing skid.
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After Sunday’s game in Minnesota, the Senators play three more road games to finish their lengthy nine-game stretch away from home: Jan. 2 in Dallas, Jan. 3 in St. Louis and Jan. 7 in Detroit.
The Wild, which could get centre Joel Eriksson Ek — he has missed the past 11 games — back Sunday, has won its past seven matchups with the Senators dating back to March 30, 2017, outscoring Ottawa 33-16 overall in that span.
Filip Gustavsson, who played a couple of seasons for the Senators before being traded to the Wild in 2022, has a 16-5-3 record for Minnesota this season. Photo by LM Otero /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS GOOD TRADE, BAD TRADE
In the category of trades that failed miserably for the Senators (and there are a few), goaltender Filip Gustavsson has been brilliant for the Wild.
Remember Gustavsson?
The Senators made a terrific trade with Pittsburgh early in 2018, getting Gustavsson, defenceman Ian Cole, a 2018 first-round pick (Jacob Bernard-Docker) and a 2019 third-rounder (used in a deal to move up and pick Mads Sogaard) in exchange for centre Derick Brassard, defenceman Vincent Dunn and a 2018 third-rounder.
Gustavsson went 10-13-3 with a 3.12 goals-against average and .905 save percentage in 27 games in two seasons with Ottawa (2020-22).
In July 2022, the Senators traded him to the Wild for Cam Talbot, who played only 36 games for Ottawa while also battling injuries. The next summer Talbot signed with Los Angeles as a free agent.
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Gustavsson is 16-5-3 this season. He ranks third in the NHL with a .922 save percentage, he’s tied for third in wins and he’s fourth with a 2.26 goals-against average. He’s allowed two or fewer goals in 16 of his 24 starts.
Former Ottawa 67’s star Marco Rossi (23) Rossi already has 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) this season, including 12 points in his past 14 games. Photo by Ellen Schmidt /GETTY IMAGES THE RISE OF MARCO
Marco Rossi was a star with the Ottawa 67’s.
In his second of two Ontario Hockey League seasons in Ottawa, the centre put up 120 points (39 goals, 81 assists) and was picked ninth overall by the Wild in the 2021 NHL draft.
It’s taken a while, but he’s starting to show what he’s capable of in the NHL. After putting up 40 points a season ago, Rossi already has 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists), including 12 points in his past 14 games.
A training camp file photo of Ottawa Senators centre Tim Stutzle. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia THE ROSTERS
OTTAWA
Forwards
Tkachuk/Stutzle/Giroux
Greig/Norris/Batherson
Cousins/Pinto/Gregor
Reinhardt/Ostapchuk/Gaudette
Defencemen
Chabot/Jensen
Sanderson/Hamonic
Kleven/Bernard-Docker
Matinpalo
Goaltenders
Sogaard/Merilainen
MINNESOTA
Forwards
Boldy/Rossi/Zuccarello
Johansson/Eriksson Ek/Hartman
Foligno/Gaudreau/Trenin
Shore/Khusnutdinov/Jones
DEFENCEMEN
Broden/Faber
Chisholm/Spurgeon
Merrill/Bogosian
GOALTENDERS
Gustafsson/Fleury
INJURY REPORT
OTTAWA
D Artem Zub (IR, fractured foot); F Michael Amadio (concussion, out for a lengthy period); F David Perron (undisclosed time length, upper body); G Anton Forsberg (day-to-day, lower body); G Linus Ullmark (back, didn’t make the trip).
MINNESOTA
D Jacob Middleton (upper-body, long-term IR); W Kirill Kaprizov (lower-body, day to day).
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The Ottawa Senators faced off against the Minnesota Wild last night in a matchup that had fans buzzing about the brilliant goalie they gave away – Devan Dubnyk.Dubnyk, who was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers and then traded to the Nashville Predators before ultimately finding a home with the Wild, has been a standout performer in the crease for Minnesota. His calm demeanor and exceptional reflexes have made him a fan favorite and a valuable asset for the team.
On the other side of the ice, the Senators have struggled to find consistency in goal since parting ways with Dubnyk. While they have some promising young talent in net, they have yet to find a goalie who can match Dubnyk’s level of play.
As the two teams faced off, Dubnyk put on a show, making save after save to frustrate the Senators’ offense. His stellar performance was a stark reminder of what the Senators had given up when they traded him away.
In the end, the Wild emerged victorious, thanks in large part to Dubnyk’s heroics. The Senators, on the other hand, were left to wonder what could have been if they had held onto their brilliant goalie. It was a tough loss for Ottawa, but a sweet victory for Dubnyk and the Wild.
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Avs reward newly acquired goalie with 5-year, $26.25 M contract extension
It didn’t take goalie Mackenzie Blackwood long to establish himself as the Colorado Avalanche’s starter for the present and future after signing a five-year $26.25 million contract extension. The Avalanche announced the signing, and a person with direct knowledge of the contract confirmed its value to The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team did not reveal the monetary figure that was first reported by Sportsnet.ca. The new contract runs though the 2029-30 season, and validates what the Avalanche expected out of Blackwood when acquiring the 28-year-old in a trade with San Jose on Dec. 9. Blackwood has gone 3-1 since.
Denver 7+ Colorado News Latest Headlines | December 27, 11am
The Colorado Avalanche have wasted no time in rewarding their newly acquired goalie, signing him to a lucrative 5-year, $26.25 million contract extension. This move shows the team’s confidence in their newest netminder and solidifies their goaltending situation for the foreseeable future. Fans can now rest easy knowing that their team has locked in a key piece of their roster for the long term. Let’s hope this investment pays off and leads to even more success for the Avs in the seasons to come. #GoAvsGo #ContractExtension #NewGoalie
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Avalanche’s New Contract For Goalie Blackwood Could Turn Out To Be A Financial Sinkhole
Mackenzie Blackwood Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
On Dec. 9, the Colorado Avalanche acquired veteran goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks. And less than three weeks later, the Avs signed Blackwood to a five-year, $26.25-million contract that has an average annual value of $5.25 million.
Does that sound like an overreaction to you? It does to this writer.
While it’s true the 28-year-old Blackwood has performed well since Avs GM Chris MacFarland traded for him – posting a 3-1-0 record, a .931 save percentage and a 2.03 goals-against average – it definitely feels like Colorado jumped the gun with this Blackwood extension. Sure, Blackwood was going to be a UFA at season’s end, but if you’re suggesting there were teams out there who were willing and able to offer Blackwood a half-decade deal or more, we’re saying we’re extremely skeptical of that.
Indeed, why couldn’t this new Blackwood deal have waited until the end of the regular season? At least the Avalanche would’ve had a bigger sample size to judge him by. And when you look at many of the contracts NHL goalies have signed of late, a long-term deal never materializes for them.
Take Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz. He only received a two-year deal from Toronto last summer. In Vegas, Stanley Cup winner Adin Hill’s latest contract was for two years at $4.9 million per season. In Carolina, youngster Pyotr Kochetkov is playing on a four-year contract, but at only $2 million per season – and Frederik Andersen is working under a two-year contract at $3.4 million per season. And in Detroit, Cam Talbot signed a two-year contract last summer.
Meanwhile, for every long-term deal that makes sense – Ilya Sorokin on Long Island, Igor Shesterkin in Manhattan, Jeremy Swayman in Boston and Jake Oettinger in Dallas – there are long-term contracts that turned out to be full-on grenades. Think of John Gibson in Anaheim, Jordan Binnington in St. Louis, Tristan Jarry in Pittsburgh and Elvis Merzlikins in Columbus. All those netminders would likely be long gone from their current team if their contracts had half the term on their present deals.
This is the danger we’re talking about when we look at Blackwood’s new extension. The Avs have thrown caution to the wind here, and MacFarland and Colorado president of hockey operations Joe Sakic are putting a good deal of their salary cap flexibility on the line with this Blackwood contract. The cap ceiling is going to rise in a major way in the next few seasons, but that’s not a good reason all on its own to spend money the way the Avs have spent it on this new contract.
In a perfect world for the Avalanche, the Blackwood extension will turn out to be a long-term bargain. Blackwood is now locked up through his prime, but there was a reason he bounced from New Jersey to San Jose before the Avs traded for him this month. Blackwood hasn’t posted an SP of .900 or better in any of the past three seasons – yet somehow, Colorado has decided he’s worth investing a lot of time and money in. And that’s why this contract could wind up being bought out by the Avs before it comes to an end.
Blackwood now is under immense pressure to justify the Avalanche’s investment in him. It’s a high-stakes battle, and one that could turn out to be disastrous for the Avs. And only time will tell whether MacFarland’s gamble will pay off positively or end in ruin.
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The Colorado Avalanche recently signed goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to a five-year contract worth $25 million, making him one of the highest-paid goalies in the league. While Blackwood has shown flashes of brilliance in his young career, this new contract could end up being a financial sinkhole for the Avalanche.Blackwood, who is just 24 years old, has had his fair share of ups and downs since entering the league in 2018. While he has shown the potential to be a top-tier goalie, he has also struggled with consistency and has yet to prove himself as a true number one goaltender.
With a salary cap hit of $5 million per year, the Avalanche are taking a big risk on Blackwood’s potential. If he fails to live up to expectations and struggles to perform at a high level, this contract could end up handcuffing the team financially and limiting their ability to make necessary roster moves in the future.
While the Avalanche are undoubtedly hoping that Blackwood will develop into a franchise goaltender, the reality is that this contract could turn out to be a financial sinkhole if he fails to meet expectations. Only time will tell if this gamble pays off for Colorado.
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Avalanche reward newly acquired goalie Blackwood with 5-year, $26.25 million contract extension
It didn’t take goalie Mackenzie Blackwood long to establish himself as the Colorado Avalanche’s starter for the present and future after signing a five-year $26.25 million contract extension on Friday.
The Avalanche announced the signing, and a person with direct knowledge of the contract confirmed its value to The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team did not reveal the monetary figure first reported by Sportsnet.ca.
The new contract runs though the 2029-30 season, and validates what the Avalanche expected out of Blackwood in solidifying their goaltending upon acquiring the 28-year-old in a trade with San Jose on Dec. 9. Blackwood has gone 3-1 since the trade with a 2.03 goals-against average and .931 save percentage.
“When we acquired Mackenzie a few weeks ago, we wanted to let him get to Denver, get acclimated to his new team, new city and then in due time we’d reach out to him and his representatives,” general manager Chris MacFarland said in a statement released by the team. “As I said when we acquired him, 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. He’s a big body, athletic goaltender who is still young and still growing as a goaltender.”
Blackwood shined in his Avalanche debut with 37 saves in a 5-2 win over Nashville, in becoming just fourth NHL goalie to stop at least that many shots in his first game with a franchise. He’s yet to allow more than two goals in each of his four starts with Colorado, and improved his season record to 9-10-3.
Blackwood is completing the second year of a two-year contract, and is on his third NHL team after spending his first five seasons in New Jersey. The Devils’ second-round pick in 2015, he was the second goalie chosen in that year’s draft.
Overall, Blackwood has an 84-92-25 record with 11 shutouts and a 3.05 goals-against average in 219 career games.
The Avalanche have completely reshuffled their goaltending tandem by also acquiring Scott Wedgewood in a trade with Nashville on Nov. 30.
The two newcomers have provided stability in net for a team that was allowing 3.71 goals per outing through its first 24 games in opening the season with goalies Alexandar Georgiev and rookie Justus Annunen.
Georgiev was dealt to San Jose along with a 2026 second-round pick and rookie forward Nikolai Kovalenko in the trade to acquire Blackwood. Annunen was swapped in the trade with Nashville.
The Avalanche (21-15), who play at Utah on Friday, are 8-3 and allowing an average 2.45 goals in the month of December while making the jump from ninth to sixth in the Western Conference standings.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
The Colorado Avalanche have locked in their goaltending future by signing newly acquired netminder Mackenzie Blackwood to a lucrative contract extension. The 25-year-old goalie, who was acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Devils earlier this season, has impressed the Avalanche front office enough to earn a 5-year, $26.25 million deal.Blackwood has quickly established himself as a key piece of the Avalanche’s roster, posting impressive numbers between the pipes and providing stability in the crease. With his new contract in place, the Avalanche can now confidently move forward with Blackwood as their goaltender of the future.
The Avalanche organization is thrilled to have Blackwood on board for the long term and is excited to see what he can accomplish in the years to come. Fans can look forward to seeing Blackwood continue to excel and help lead the Avalanche to success on the ice. Congratulations to Mackenzie Blackwood on his well-deserved contract extension! #GoAvsGo #BlackwoodExtended
Tags:
- Avalanche
- Reward
- Goalie
- Blackwood
- Contract extension
- 5-year
- $26.25 million
- New acquisition
- NHL
- Hockey
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