Confirmed with Link: Avs re-sign Blackwood to 5-year × $5.25M AAV deal

[Ceremony]

Why does a goalie have no teeth??

In his second last game for San Jose, he took a slapshot to the face that actually cracked the front of his mask, caved in, and took out some of his teeth.

First time in my life I’ve seen or heard that happen.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I liked that we signed him before the new goalie smell wore off. We're all so happy!

 

[Foppa2118]

Definitely a change in philosophy. $5.25M and with term are both more than the Avs like to pay their goalies. Hope he can continue playing well.

Feels like the market (other teams wanting goalies) dictated this number too.

You wouldn't think he'd command this much at 28 on his GAA and Save % alone. That's not necessarily an indication of his ability, since he's played on some bad teams, but it usually does have an impact on your leverage in negotiations.

 

[dahrougem2]

Lol. Probably all of Canada minus either Toronto or Vancouver.

 

[Foppa2118]

In his second last game for San Jose, he took a slapshot to the face that actually cracked the front of his mask, caved in, and took out some of his teeth.

First time in my life I’ve seen or heard that happen.

Wait this just happened? I assumed it'd been that way for a while.

If only CMac could have closed the deal a few days sooner...

Edit: Nevermind, just saw your follow up post that it happened 4 years ago.

 

[Metallo]

Actually, I’m wrong.

It was 4 years ago while playing for New Jersey.

I have no idea why he hasn’t had his teeth fixed since then.

I hope he isn't waiting for Kroenke to pay for it...

 

[Balthazar]

Lol. Probably all of Canada minus either Toronto or Vancouver.

Canada - Toronto - Vancouver + Columbus + Buffalo

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

Canada - Toronto - Vancouver + Columbus + Buffalo

If I had a 3 team NTC I'd put Buffalo twice.

 

[Richard88]

Definitely a change in philosophy. $5.25M and with term are both more than the Avs like to pay their goalies. Hope he can continue playing well.

Feels like the market (other teams wanting goalies) dictated this number too.

You wouldn't think he'd command this much at 28 on his GAA and Save % alone. That's not necessarily an indication of his ability, since he's played on some bad teams, but it usually does have an impact on your leverage in negotiations.

In terms of cap % the Blackwood signing isn't dramatically different from previous goalie signings the Avs have made recently:

Grubauer signed for $3.33m when the cap was at $79.5m = 4.19% of the cap

Kuemper was acquired with a $3.5m AAV (after retention) when the cap was $81.5m = 4.29%.

Georgiev signed for $3.4m aav when the cap was at 82.5m = 4.12%.

Blackwood $5.25m when the cap will be around $94m = 5.59%.


Blackwood is getting 1 - 1.5% higher than his predecessors, but the Avs are also buying some extra UFA years and thereby getting some stability in the position. Seems like a fair compromise that isn't far off the Avs usual cap allocation in net.

Moreover, they've had Francouz as the backup most of the last few seasons and he was earning $2m. Wedgewood is earning $0.5m less than him until 2026, and then Nabokov on an ELC will earn even less than Wedgewood, which will obviously lower the % spent on backups relative to recent years as well.

For example, in the cup year Kuemper + Francouz cost a combined $5.5m, which was 6.74% of the cap. In 2025/26 Blackwood ($5.25m) + Wedgewood $1.5m) will cost a combined $6.75m, a combined 7.18% of the cap (estimated at $94m). So a difference of less than 0.5% spent on goalies, which is hardly a significant shift in philosophy relative to the cap.

 

[McMetal]

I don't really understand why this should have anything to do with Nabokov. We, of all fanbases, should know that goalie prospects are voodoo and even promising ones flame out ALL THE TIME. It's the definition of insanity for the Avs to put all their chips on Nabokov working out. Birds in the hand and all that.

Besides, let's say Nabokov does come over and win the starter's job from Blackwood. So what? Now we can trade Blackwood for a princely ransom to some other team desperate for a goalie. There are teams every year who will do anything for a reliable goalie. We were one of them a month ago.

That is far from a worst case scenario. The worst case scenario is that Blackwood falls to pieces the same way Georgiev did and we're stuck with a goalie nobody wants. It's not like he has a proven track record of unbroken success. He's 28 and on his 3rd NHL team, if he was a sure thing that wouldn't be the case.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I don't really understand why this should have anything to do with Nabokov. We, of all fanbases, should know that goalie prospects are voodoo and even promising ones flame out ALL THE TIME. It's the definition of insanity for the Avs to put all their chips on Nabokov working out. Birds in the hand and all that.

Besides, let's say Nabokov does come over and win the starter's job from Blackwood. So what? Now we can trade Blackwood for a princely ransom to some other team desperate for a goalie. There are teams every year who will do anything for a reliable goalie. We were one of them a month ago.

That is far from a worst case scenario. The worst case scenario is that Blackwood falls to pieces the same way Georgiev did and we're stuck with a goalie nobody wants. It's not like he has a proven track record of unbroken success. He's 28 and on his 3rd NHL team, if he was a sure thing that wouldn't be the case.

Speak for yourself, but I've still got faith in Peter Delmas turning things around for us.

 

[Foppa2118]

Speak for yourself, but I've still got faith in Peter Delmas turning things around for us.

Martin Spencer was somewhat promising for a mintue too.

Also, I'm not convinced that Aittokalio and Annunen aren't the same goalie. Same with vets Hammond and Hutchinson.

I think the Avs just struggle so much with finding goalies, they resorted to changing a few letters to make it seem like they found someone new.

 

[Vaslof]

Martin Spencer was somewhat promising for a mintue too.

Also, I'm not convinced that Aittokalio and Annunen aren't the same goalie. Same with vets Hammond and Hutchinson.

I think the Avs just struggle so much with finding goalies, they resorted to changing a few letters to make it seem like they found someone new.

Fun fact Hutchinson played today in Liiga and let in 4 goals on 8 shots.

Calvin Pickard seems to have some staying power. 8th year in the NHL post-Avs.

 

[dahrougem2]

Fun fact Hutchinson played today in Liiga and let in 4 goals on 8 shots.

Calvin Pickard seems to have some staying power. 8th year in the NHL post-Avs.

Pickard makes no sense. Watching him play the guy looks HORRIBLE yet he's somehow making saves at the NHL level and even helped the Oilers in the playoffs last year.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Martin Spencer was somewhat promising for a mintue too.

Also, I'm not convinced that Aittokalio and Annunen aren't the same goalie. Same with vets Hammond and Hutchinson.

I think the Avs just struggle so much with finding goalies, they resorted to changing a few letters to make it seem like they found someone new.

They can find goalies, they just can't develop the really young ones for shit.

Sometimes you just gotta pay to solve your weaknesses lol.

I haven't really had a problem with it until they held onto 4Giev too long after it was obvious he wasn't the answer.

I'd have liked to see them draft better at the position.

 

[Foppa2118]

Fun fact Hutchinson played today in Liiga and let in 4 goals on 8 shots.

Calvin Pickard seems to have some staying power. 8th year in the NHL post-Avs.

Yeah, but this is the first year post Avs that Picks hasn't split time in the AHL, and we're less than halfway through the season. He was mostly an AHLer before Edmonton.

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

On a more serious note a league average starter for a year or two costs around a first?

For a higher tier starter like Kuemper it took a first and a throw in AHLer Timmins.

Hardly a high price to pay to fill the position.

Unlike 2C which can be extremely expensive.

Which is why you don't give up on a JTC when you have one.

OK maybe it wasn't a serious note after all.

Brewer.

 

[AvBuff]

I hope he isn't waiting for Kroenke to pay for it...

The 4 levels of the Kroenke Sports Dental Plan:

Gold
Silver
Bronze
Yan Stastny.

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

Ooof 5.25 is a little high but not the end of the world

Fallowing the standard $250k too much. Checks out then

 

[AvStock]

Have you watched Darcy play post cup win? Even then age wise Kuemper was not a fit at all.

Kuemper is killing it in LA

Kuemper was 32 at the time he signed his 5 x 5.25m deal. And has been trending down ever since.

Blackwood just turned 28 and is arguably just entering his prime years.

We will see, NJ fans are laughing at us and saying he’s trash. Hope he’s not another Georgiev

 

[Murzu]

So let's say Landeskog returns by the start of next season, and Rantanen re-signs for $12.5m. That leaves us at $91.645m with the roster below:

Landeskog ($7m) ----- Mackinnon ($12.6m) -- Rantanen ($12.5m)
Lehkonen ($4.5m) --- Mittelstadt ($5.75m) -- Nichushkin ($6.125m)
Wood ($2.5m) -------- Colton ($4m) -------- O'Connor ($2.5m)
Ivan ($845k) ----------- Kelly ($825k) -------- 4RW
13FWD

Toews ($7.25m) -- Makar ($9m)
Girard ($5m) ----- Manson ($4.5m)
3LD --------------- 3RD
7D

Blackwood ($5.25m)
Wedgewood ($1.5m)

Taking an optimistic view of the cap rising to $96m that would leave about $4.3m to re-sign two depth forwards and 3 depth Dmen.

Say two spots get filled by Ritchie ($950k) and Behrens ($905k) for a combined $1.855m... that would leave about $2.5m for your 13th forward and 6-7 Dmen at $830k each. Easily doable to ice a 22 man roster. That would see Malinski being traded as an RFA though if he's asking for a notable raise.

If the cap doesn't rise to $96m however you can find the necessary wiggle room by trading Wood (freeing up to $1.7m), or by re-signing Malinski and trading Manson (maybe that saves $2.5m if Malinski comes in at $2m?).

Either way Landeskog returning is absolutely manageable, easily so with a $96m caphit, or by trimming around the edges if the cap is closer to $93m.

Trade Colton, have Ritchie play 3C and sign Drouin to 3x3 deal.

If Ritchie doesn't do well, trade for 3C at TDL.

Trade Wood if needed, sign a 1-1,5M player to replace him. That's at least a mil saved there too.

 

[Avs9296]

Trade Colton, have Ritchie play 3C and sign Drouin to 3x3 deal.

If Ritchie doesn't do well, trade for 3C at TDL.

Trade Wood if needed, sign a 1-1,5M player to replace him. That's at least a mil saved there too.

If they can sign Kiviranta to that 1-1.5 million and replace Wood that would be ideal.

 

[Avsfan1921]

Really happy with this signing. If we leave it until next year and try something else it’s just as much of a risk. He’s played well for some time now so the Avs may as well take an educated guess that he’ll be a fit and get it done now instead of trying at the end of the year where he’s likely going to cost more after a good run with us.

 

[Mooserton]

Lol. Probably all of Canada minus either Toronto or Vancouver.

It's actually minus Ottawa because he forgot they existed.

 

[Bone Breaker]

yeah sorry but Im not joining the cope. this feels like Oilers with Koskinen and still that one was cheaper and shorter than 5 years 5.3M. Blackwood has career so far that can labelled everything but not "consistent" and "reliable". this is VERY risky and kinda unnecessary when you just barely acquired him and I doubt someone in the off season would give him that kind of offer. also, the arguments that cap is going up and "we can get out of this contract if need be" could be used to any contract out there, so by that logic there are no bad contracts in this league.

they must REALLY like the guy and I hope he can keep his current mojo up. probably he wont but our management is prepared for that, right?