Sharks Trade Ex-Devils Goaltender to Avalanche in Big Swap

The San Jose Sharks trade ex-New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to the Colorado Avalanche, multiple reports suggest on Monday afternoon. Forward Giovanni Smith and a 2027 fifth-round draft pick is part of the deal going to the Avalanche as well.

In return, the Sharks are receiving forward Nikolai Kovalenko, Alexander Georgiev, a 2026 second-round and 2025 fifth-round draft pick. The Avalanche will retain 14% of Georgiev’s salary. He’s in the final year of a $3.4 million contract.

Thus, the Sharks remain with a three-headed goaltending tandem between Georgiev, fellow ex-Devils goaltender Vitek Vanecek, and recently acquired Yaroslav Askarov.

It’s incredible how woven the Devils are in this deal, as one ex-Devils goaltender joins another ex-Devils goaltender in Colorado, Scott Wedgewood. Ex-Devils forward Miles Wood is also a member of the Avalanche.

The Avalanche have completely revamped their goaltending with the ex-Devils goaltending tandem in Blackwood and Wedgewood.

Wedgewood was recently acquired by the Avalanche on December 1st in a trade with the Nashville Predators, who sent goaltender Justus Annunen and a 2025 sixth-round draft pick the other way.

Ever since leaving New Jersey, Blackwood has been a solid goaltender for a non-contending Sharks team. Despite a 6-9-3 record in 19 games this season, Blackwood holds a 3.00 GAA and strong .909 SV%. Behind a fun, yet inexperienced Sharks team who manages to allow one-to-many goals often, Blackwood has so far made 3.9 saves above expected, 17th overall in the NHL among goaltenders who have played 10 or more games.

The Avalanche have been in dire need of an upgrade in net after Georgiev and Annunen struggled to begin the 2024-25 season in which Colorado has playoff, and contending aspirations.

Mackenzie Blackwood now has a chance to get work his way into the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in his career with the Avalanche.

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