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

[JKG33]

I don't know, I'm not Ron Francis. Go ask him.

Players getting ridiculous contracts in free agency is evidence of nothing but GM incompetence and it literally happens every off-season.

How would you know it's because of the team? You reject GSAx whole cloth so how have you determined this?

Goaltender performance has the highest variation statistically speaking of all hockey positions from season-to-season. As a goalie expert shouldn't you be aware of this fact?

But since the statistics are all wrong, what is your background in goaltender coaching/playing? You must have a wealth of experience with the position since you can intuit goaltender analysis solely by your own judgement and can ignore statistics without counter-evidence.

Players do get ridiculous contracts. But it's one helluva coincidence that both Keumper and Grubauer looked good behind the Avs, and then got overpaid and their play went to shit once they left.

Believe it or not I actually do like Keumper. Up until today he's been the best goalie the Avs have rostered in a while. And I'm happy to have him back in LA, who've been trotting out garbage in the crease ever since they unceremoniously dumped Quick.

That said, he's not this world beater you're making him out to be. The Avs were a wagon of a team that was gunna dominate no matter who they had in net. Today they aren't as good as they were a few years ago, but with a competent goalie they're still a cup favorite.

Blackwood, if he's back in pre-covid form like he's shown for the last year in SJ, is the best goalie the Avs have had since Varlamov, which was my original argument.

I've dedicated most of my life to the position, playing up until junior and then coaching. I can tell by watching what goalies are legit and what ones are frauds. While I don't particularly care if you or others believe me, I'm not gunna listen to some nonsense, being called wrong because a spreadsheet says so

 

[Andre Palot]

Georgiev was so frustrating. Talent was there. Consistency wasn’t. it wouldn’t surprise me if he bounced back in SJ, at least briefly. We couldn’t wait around forever.

Hoping Blackwood can be average. Not being dead last anymore sure would help out a lot.

Wait until you see what the Avs just traded for.

 

[Dr Amazing]

The Avs are about to make two back up goalies look good turn them into starters for other teams .

 

[Pinkfloyd]

My initial reaction is that the Sharks got good value out of this deal and that Colorado didn't have to lose any critical future assets to get a goalie having a very good year behind a bad defense. Kovalenko will get a shot with the Sharks to show if there's more to his game. The Sharks pretty much have two open top nine spots in the lineup being played for but no one is really sticking yet. I hope Georgiev uses the peppering he'll get in net here to be tradeable in a three team trade but I'm not counting on it. I would sooner bury Georgiev to give Askarov the job but we'll see what Grier wants to do.

 

[TheBeard]

Colorado Avalanche now a member of The Triple Wood Club

That's a lot of wood. Like literally Miles of wood.

Miles and miles of wood

Damnit you beat me to it.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

My initial reaction is that the Sharks got good value out of this deal and that Colorado didn't have to lose any critical future assets to get a goalie having a very good year behind a bad defense. Kovalenko will get a shot with the Sharks to show if there's more to his game. The Sharks pretty much have two open top nine spots in the lineup being played for but no one is really sticking yet. I hope Georgiev uses the peppering he'll get in net here to be tradeable in a three team trade but I'm not counting on it. I would sooner bury Georgiev to give Askarov the job but we'll see what Grier wants to do.

It could be a good move for both teams.

 

[JKG33]

Colorado Avalanche now a member of The Triple Wood Club

They better consult a doctor if they reach the quadruple wood club

 

[Andre Palot]

The Avs are about to make two back up goalies look good turn them into starters for other teams .

If Colorado's goaltending coaches can make Blackwood into a quality starter and 'whisper' him they all deserve decade long extensions.

 

[HabzSauce]

That will FOR SURE solve all of their goaltending woes. Mission accomplished, boys!

Why not? Blackwood is good

 

[Pinkfloyd]

It could be a good move for both teams.

That 2nd alone will help the Sharks either get improvements on their blue line or more depth up front for Celebrini and the kids to compete with. Or it'll be a trade piece to move up earlier in the draft. Any of those makes sense for the Sharks at this time. I'm really interested in seeing what Kovalenko has to offer.

 

[Dr Amazing]

If Colorado's goaltending coaches can make Blackwood into a quality starter and 'whisper' him they all deserve decade long extensions.

Or they can sign decade long deals with other teams after they win the Stanley Cup.

 

[tucker3434]

Wait until you see what the Avs just traded for.

As long as there are some ups to go along with the downs, we’ll be okay. With Georgiev this year, he’s just been all down.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

It's a steep price to pay, but that's the reality of needing a goalie right now. There aren't enough goalies to go around.

 

[ManofSteel55]

Honestly, if this would have been closer to the TDL where there would have been 3 or 4 teams desperate for an upgrade Blackwood may have gotten a first.

I think you are in the minority in this thought. There were a number of Blackwood discussions this year, and the thought of him going for a first really wasn't considered seriously. There typically aren't 3 or 4 teams who are desperately looking for a marginal starting goalie at the deadline.

 

[Vukotal Recall]

I’ve heard that Georgiev is Moldovan whose maternal grandfather is from Macedonia. Can anyone confirm?

In West Macedonia, born and raised, on an ice rink is where he spent most of his days...

 

[Avs2022]

They seem to be focusing specifically on New Jersey castoffs. Which, given the great success that franchise had with them, is a no brainer.

/s

They spent 10 years focusing on Columbus cast offs as well.

 

[Xirik]

Well, Devils are guaranteed to lose the their game against the Av's in Febuary since both are former Devils goalies and both got shutouts on them this year.

I hate SJ, I hate the Av's...

 

[Grinner]

Blackwood is in good form. I’m not convinced he’s a good goalie for a team with contender ambitions. At the very least, this is another huge gamble by the Avs on this position.

Kovalenko at the moment is a fine bottom six player but nothing worth writing home about. He’s been getting less and less run with the forward group getting healthier, was down to about 10 minutes per game. Only a rookie but also 25 so not sure there is a ton of upside. He will be more useful in your bottom six than featherweights like Gushchin or AAAA tweener types. Don’t expect big upside though.

 

[John Mandalorian]

It's a steep price to pay, but that's the reality of needing a goalie right now. There aren't enough goalies to go around.

It could have been worse if they had waited.

 

[coooldude]

Shark Tank in effect. Grier built the team a little too well as evidenced by a much lower GA rate.

Apparently, he wants another top-5 pick.

We were on track for a top 5 pick anyway, this isn't a tank move when we're already there despite playing a lot more competitively this year.

And, I will honestly be surprised if Georgie stays with the big club. This one "feels" like Askarov is going to get the call up for the second half, and Vanecek or Georgiev are headed to the AHL. we'll see. It will certainly lose us more games if Grier actually intends to run Georgie/Vanecek. That's not what he's stated he wants from this year so that's why I expect Askarov soon enough.

 

[Shane Diesel]

Players do get ridiculous contracts. But it's one helluva coincidence that both Keumper and Grubauer looked good behind the Avs, and then got overpaid and their play went to shit once they left.

Incorrect. Both Grubauer and Georgiev had multiple sub-par seasons in Colorado.

Believe it or not I actually do like Keumper. Up until today he's been the best goalie the Avs have rostered in a while. And I'm happy to have him back in LA, who've been trotting out garbage in the crease ever since they unceremoniously dumped Quick.

That said, he's not this world beater you're making him out to be. The Avs were a wagon of a team that was gunna dominate no matter who they had in net. Today they aren't as good as they were a few years ago, but with a competent goalie they're still a cup favorite.

I said he was above a mid-tier goalie when he was acquired and had a top five season with the Avs. His four seasons from his time with Arizona to Colorado he was arguably a top goaltender in the league and I've posted the links to prove it. Something you've yet to do.

Blackwood, if he's back in pre-covid form like he's shown for the last year in SJ, is the best goalie the Avs have had since Varlamov, which was my original argument.

And it's wrong. If Blackwood plays well he'll be the best goalie since Kuemper.

I've dedicated most of my life to the position, playing up until junior and then coaching. I can tell by watching what goalies are legit and what ones are frauds. While I don't particularly care if you or others believe me, I'm not gunna listen to some nonsense, being called wrong because a spreadsheet says so

And I don't find "trust me bro" arguments to have any substance.

I played competitive hockey as a goaltender and my opinion is that your take is laughably wrong. And I don't care if you don't believe me.

Now what?

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Don't love the price the Avs paid at all...


But I'm also not very high on Blackwood. Yeah he's am upgrade over Georgiev, but is he really at the level we want or need? I have my doubts.


But I will say at least we did this now and made a move early. It's been clear all year just how massively disappointing the goaltending has been, so let's see if it improves and if it will help our record improve. Because on paper we still have arguably the very best offense in the league and a prettt damn good defense as well.

 

[Asinine]

Basically paid a 2nd rounder for another spin on the roulette wheel of fringe starters.

 

[JKG33]

Incorrect. Both Grubauer and Georgiev had multiple sub-par seasons in Colorado.

I said he was above a mid-tier goalie when he was acquired and had a top five season with the Avs. His four seasons from his time with Arizona to Colorado he was arguably a top goaltender in the league and I've posted the links to prove it. Something you've yet to do.

And it's wrong. If Blackwood plays well he'll be the best goalie since Kuemper.

And I don't find "trust me bro" arguments to have any substance.

I played competitive hockey as a goaltender and my opinion is that your take is laughably wrong. And I don't care if you don't believe me.

Now what?

I find it odd that you played at a high level yet still hide behind the fancy stat BS. I think it's best if we end 'er here and agree to disagree.

 

[JoeSakic13]

Blackwood/Wedgewood

I've seen that movie before. Have fun with that Avs.

Lucky you! You got to see half of it again last night.