Confirmed Trade: [COL/SJS] Mackenzie Blackwood, Givani Smith, 2027 5th for Alexandar Georgiev (14% ret.), Nikolai Kovalenko, 2026 2nd, cond. 2025 4th

[67 others]

God we're getting Georgiev, aren't we.

Didn't you want to draft Schaefer?

This gives us a better chance at finishing bottom 3 lol. AND we got a 2nd

 

[El Travo]

I don't care how good Blackwood ends up being, I'm just glad the 4giev Saga is over.

 

[Lonewolfe2015]

Can Avalanche fans chime in on this? Was it actually getting so bad that it created locker room issues? Or was it just the personality and nothing to do with his play? Probably a perfect storm of both I'd imagine. You can survive being terrible on a team if you have a good personality.

They never mentioned it was Georgie directly, but insinuated that Wedgie was a breath of fresh air because of his positivity and team first attitude. That was after moving Annunen, who we know wasn't a personality issue himself. So you can only draw one conclusion.

 

[Muffin]

Well Georgiev in San Jose is going to be fun lol

Warrior is going to make a killing from him breaking his sticks.

Can Avalanche fans chime in on this? Was it actually getting so bad that it created locker room issues? Or was it just the personality and nothing to do with his play? Probably a perfect storm of both I'd imagine. You can survive being terrible on a team if you have a good personality.

I mean no one came out and openly said it but it was pretty clear no one liked the guy. He wasn't well liked in the Rangers locker room either.

 

[Shane Diesel]

Yes, playoffs>Regular Season.

Oh look, you again conviently ignore Grubauer and Georgiev who also at times looked great on the Avs.

And you continue to be unable to acknowledge he suffered an eye injury that caused him to miss a couple of weeks.


Wow, other goaltenders have had good seasons for the Avs. Crazy. When did the league allow for more than one good goaltender at a time? That's cheating.

Yea, they realized they were fine with dime a dozen 1B's and backups, which Kuemper also was so why pay him like a starter. Washington f***ed around and found out on that one

Kuemper literally hasn't been a backup since 17/18. You're just making stuff up now.

 

[TheBeard]

Didn't you want to draft Schaefer?

This gives us a better chance at finishing bottom 3 lol. AND we got a 2nd

I'm not interested in purposely tanking anymore. Getting the 60th pick isn't worth wasting another year of my life.

 

[HBK27]

Correct me I'm wrong Devil fans, but Blackwood came out hot on very weak Devil teams and was viewed to be the potential franchise goalie. Even drawing comparisons to the rival Rangers goalie (Shesterkin). Then seemingly injuries hit and he started to lose the net in the final year with you guys.

I can see a lot of untapped potential here. Like a Adin Hill type bump up in productivity.

I'm not sure about the Shesterkin comparisons, but Blackwood had a really strong start to his career with NJ, which was a little surprising as his AHL stats weren't all that great. Still, he was a former 2nd round pick so with a .917 SV% and 2.67 GAA through his first 67 games on some rather bad NJ teams, so it seemed like we had our goalie of the future.

In the 3 seasons that followed in NJ, he really struggled to find consistency and struggled with injuries. I believe there was also something there about him being pressured to play through some injuries.

There was also the Covid thing, where Blackwood did not initially get the vaccine which may or may not have frustrated management, though certainly caused a rift with many in the fanbase. I was one of his biggest supporters on these boards up until the end of his tenure in NJ, but by that point is was clear to everyone that he needed a change of scenery. Not at all surprised to see that he did reasonably well in San Jose. Not really sure what to expect in Colorado - should surely be an upgrade over Georgiev and will have some lights-out performances, though I still question if he can find that level of consistency needed especially now with the added pressure he'll be taking on. Seems like he's been relatively healthy these past two seasons which also makes a big difference.

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

They never mentioned it was Georgie directly, but insinuated that Wedgie was a breath of fresh air because of his positivity and team first attitude. That was after moving Annunen, who we know wasn't a personality issue himself. So you can only draw one conclusion.

I'd have to imagine that being totally unable to trust either goaltender wasn't doing much for morale.

 

[SharksCyclops]

Lotta dumb takes in this thread. Can’t wait for Avs fans to realize that Blackwood is a legit starter in this league and just sweep these comments under the rug.

 

[JKG33]

And you continue to be unable to acknowledge he suffered an eye injury that caused him to miss a couple of weeks.


Wow, other goaltenders have had good seasons for the Avs. Crazy. When did the league allow for more than one good goaltender at a time? That's cheating.


Kuemper literally hasn't been a backup since 17/18. You're just making stuff up now.

Injury or not, Keumper still played like shit and the Avs still won the cup.

Yea, it's almost like the Avs have mid goalies look better than they really are. Which has been my point this whole time.

 

[JoeSakic13]

Lotta dumb takes in this thread. Can’t wait for Avs fans to realize that Blackwood is a legit starter in this league and just sweep these comments under the rug.

Nah, please feel free to rub it in their faces. Not saying that Blackwood is going to be a stud in Colorado, but he’s definitely an upgrade. Plus Georgie being gone makes it a win/win.

 

[Bruce Granville]

Wow…this solves nothing…

 

[D Wakaluk]

Damn. Didn't expect this

 

[Pablo El Perro]

When he's on, Blackwood is great. Like the move for the Avs.

 

[Boy Hedican]

Didn't you want to draft Schaefer?

This gives us a better chance at finishing bottom 3 lol. AND we got a 2nd

Exactly. We need insurance placeholders. Now we have 2 in net. Asky can stick it with the Cuda for the season with a few call ups. We just need one more bottom draft.

 

[JoeSakic13]

Can someone ask the Chris Patrick how much cap space this leaves the Avalanche with?

 

[dirtydanglez]

if i didnt know any better id think colorado hired kyle dubas. hope this goalie works for them becuase they've spent a lot of picks to try and solve this problem and nothing has really worked well.

 

[Shane Diesel]

Injury or not, Keumper still played like shit and the Avs still won the cup.

He played poorly in the playoffs and wonderfully in the regular season. The poor performance in the playoffs also coincided with a legitimate eye injury.

Yea, it's almost like the Avs have mid goalies look better than they really are. Which has been my point this whole time.

And your ability to determine what the team is responsible for and what the goaltender is responsible for is what exactly?

Because Grubauer had seasons with the Avs that ranked 38th and 20th in GSAx and Georgiev is currently second to last in the league. Kinda blows the whole "any goalie playing behind the Avs will put up good numbers" narrative straight out of the water.

You should really look this stuff up before making such declarative statements or going with your gut.

 

[Fantast100]

When he's on, Blackwood is great. Like the move for the Avs.

At least the two of us are convinced of Blackwell in Colorado.

Are you same convinced of Wedgewood in Colorado as I am?

 

[Pablo El Perro]

At least the two of us are convinced of Blackwell in Colorado.

Are you same convinced of Wedgewood in Colorado as I am?

Not so much.

 

[Dr Amazing]

Wood Wedgewood and Blackwood the Avs are gonna win the cup.

 

[JKG33]

He played poorly in the playoffs and wonderfully in the regular season. The poor performance in the playoffs also coincided with a legitimate eye injury.

And your ability to determine what the team is responsible for and what the goaltender is responsible for is what exactly?

Because Grubauer had seasons with the Avs that ranked 38th and 20th in GSAx and Georgiev is currently dead last in the league. Kinda blows the whole "any goalie playing behind the Avs will put up good numbers" narrative straight out of the water.

You should really look this stuff up before making such declarative statements or going with your gut.

Grubauer was so terrible for his time in Colorado that Seattle gave him.. basically the same contract Washington gave Keumper. How do you explain that one?

Meanwhile Georgiev had a great season his first year in Colorado (playing behind the same team that made Kuemper look great).. then as the Avs got older and lost some pieces, suddenly he showed his true colors. Funny how that works. But sure, keep yapping about the fancy stats all you want

 

[Jixer19]

Losing Kovalenko is not the greatest thing, his game was just getting use to the NA ice and Avs system and looking like he could be an awesome player. Getting rid of 4giev helps a ton with it, but still sucks. Wish him nothing but the best on the Sharks and going forward though, think Shark fans will like him

​

 

[Muffin]

It's really not a huge price to pay for the Avs. A 2nd and a third line grinder wouldn't get you much at the deadline.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Took them long enough