Confirmed with Link: TRADE: Sharks trade G Mackenzie Blackwood, F Givani Smith, 2027 5th to COL for G Alexandar Georgiev, F Nikolai Kovalenko, '26 2nd, Cond'l '25 5th

[LilLeeroy]

Surprised sampler isn't throwing a fit in here because Grier is trying to tank his sure thing over-under bet.

 

[The Nemesis]

If Blackwood starts 30 games, the Avs' 5th becomes a 4th. With 53 remaining games on the schedule for Colorado, I like the odds of that happening.

You have a link for that? I'd like to update the first post with it.

 

[Hodge]

A 2nd + a top 9 prospect is a good return for a pending UFA goalie

It's a good return but Kovalenko is 25, not a prospect.

 

[Juxtaposer]

You have a link for that? I'd like to update the first post with it.

It's in the Sharks' announcement of the trade:

Sharks acquire goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko and two draft selections from Colorado | San Jose Sharks

San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) General Manager Mike Grier announced today that the club has acquired goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko, Colorado’s 2026 second-round selection, and a conditional fifth-round draft selection in 2025 in exchange for goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood...

www.nhl.com

There's a couple more conditions where it could upgrade to a 4th but the 30GP is the only one I think is likely.

 

[The Nemesis]

I'm sure a bunch of youngsters aren't happy about this trade. More forward competition for spots. Feels like this definitely seals the fates of Bordeleau, Gushchin, Robins, and Cow.

It shouldn't seal the fate of anyone whose fate wasn't already being sealed by their own play. Kovalenko is a nice piece but he's an RFA at season's end and there's always the risk he decides he'd rather go back to the KHL and be a top 6 guy instead of faffing around on the 3rd line of a bottom feeder like the Sharks. If Bordeleau, or Gushchin can't beat him out then they weren't making the NHL roster anyways. Robins always struck me as more of a 4th liner, and Coe seems like he's probably toast anyways.

 

[Jargon]

It's a good return but Kovalenko is 25, not a prospect.

I guess to be fair to him he just came over this year from the KHL, so I think he's a prospect in that he's very obviously still figuring out the NHL (and hasn't been languishing in the A or being benched or whatever).

 

[Chinaski89]

I like it a lot. Rental goalie market is real rough in terms of getting any value out of them, a second round pick was hopeful dreaming and Grier got it. Remember we acquired Blackwood for a 6th round pick. Colorado is also retaining 14% of the Georgiev salary

I liked the proposed trade on here of Sharks shipping Ferraro out, too, and trying to get that to be a 1st since Colorado’s d also is terrible this year and Ferraro might be a serviceable 5/6 for them.

 

[Patty Ice]

not just because he's the son of longtime NHLer and now...KHL PA chairman...Andrei Kovalenko

His pop was a sometimes linemate with Owen Nolan on the Nordiques as well so there is a miniscule connection there.

 

[Lebanezer]

I wish the best to Blackwood, I think he'll do well in Colorado, but this is unequivocally a win for us. Either we have the single most pathetic goaltending duo of all time and easily land the best draft odds or we get to see Asky. Win-win. 2nd rounder is just more capital to add NHL players this summer.

It will be Askarov.

 

[timorous me]

For anyone who doesn't know the return pieces:

Nikolai Kovalenko is the son of former NHLer Andrei Kovalenko. He was born in Raleigh when Andrei was with the Canes for a couple of the final years of his career but he grew up in Russia and came up through the Russian developmental system and the KHL. He was a 6th round pick in the 2018 draft (the round where the Sharks drafted John Leonard) and this was his first proper season in North America (he played 2 playoff games for them last season). He has 8 points (4g, 4a) in 28 games so far this year. He's nicknamed "Tank Jr." after his father, who was famously a fire hydrant of a player (5'10, 200+ lbs) known for being a tenacious forechecker and hard to knock off the puck, but who also had some offensive upside as he recorded seasons of 32, 28, and 27 goals in his 9 years in the NHL with Quebec/Colorado, Edmonton, Carolina, Boston, Montreal, and Philadelphia. Famously he was part of the package that the Avs sent out during their first year after moving from Quebec in order to acquire Patrick Roy from the Canadiens.

Scouting reports for him seem to peg him as a 3rd line/middle 6 support player who can play with a high motor, crash and bang, and with a little bit of scoring pop not unlike his dad. But he's not necessarily as physically stout as Andrei was and he does have a limited ceiling.

He is on the last year of his ELC for just under $900k and will be an RFA at season's end.

Nikolai Kovalenko Stats, Profile, Bio, Analysis and More | Colorado Avalanche | Sports Forecaster

All the latest news, stats and analysis on Nikolai Kovalenko of the Colorado Avalanche on SportsForecaster.com.

sportsforecaster.com

Nikolai Kovalenko

October 2024 - A shoe-in for an NHL roster spot due to his pro experience, Kovalenko did not disappoint in training camp and pre-season, where he was shooting and hitting enough to excite fantasy owners and impress Avs coaching staff. His spot on the Avs was locked in quickly and he is the most...

dobberprospects.com

Colorado Avalanche Top 25 Under 25: #5 Nikolai Kovalenko

It’s almost time to see Tank Jr. in the NHL.

www.milehighhockey.com

Alex Georgiev is a Bulgarian-born netminder who developed in Finland, playing 3 years with TPS Turku of the top Finnish league before being signed by the Rangers after attending their prospect camp. For the next 5 years he was a backup or platoon goalie for the Rangers before they dealt him to Colorado because the Avs needed to shuffle their goaltending after winning the Stanely Cup while the Rangers cleared space for the ascent of Igor Shesterkin. He was an all-star as recently as last season, but his numbers for his career have been a bit up and down and this season in particular he fell off hard and lost his starting role with the Avs, prompting this trade.

He is signed through the end of this season at a cap hit of $3.4 million, after which he will be an Unrestricted Free Agent.


Both picks conveying to the Sharks are Colorado's own. This will give the Sharks two 2nd rounders for 2026 and will slot them back into next draft's 5th round after having dealt their own 2025 5th away last season for Anthony Duclair.

Funny that in the end, Nikolai ends up playing only two more games with the Avs than his dad did, 28 to 26, with both being traded during their first season in Colorado.

It's a good return but Kovalenko is 25, not a prospect.

It's not bad, though, for a team like the Sharks to get someone in that age range--basically a readymade NHL player, if his adjustment this year goes well--instead of another kid who won't be at his peak for a few more years.

 

[The Nemesis]

It's in the Sharks' announcement of the trade:

Sharks acquire goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko and two draft selections from Colorado | San Jose Sharks

San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) General Manager Mike Grier announced today that the club has acquired goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko, Colorado’s 2026 second-round selection, and a conditional fifth-round draft selection in 2025 in exchange for goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood...

www.nhl.com

There's a couple more conditions where it could upgrade to a 4th but the 30GP is the only one I think is likely.

Thanks.

The article says it's not Blackwood hitting on any one of the 3 conditions. It's that two of the three have to be satisfied:

30+ starts, 25+ wins, and/or the Avs make it to the 3rd round of the playoffs (Conf. Finals).

With 53 games to go and Blackwood having 19 GP with the Sharks I agree that 30 GS is reasonable. He'll be hard pressed to reach 25 wins though considering he's never started 50+ games in a year and he'd have to win like 80%+ of his starts to even have a chance of sniffing 25 wins with the Avs.

 

[OrrNumber4]

It shouldn't seal the fate of anyone whose fate wasn't already being sealed by their own play. Kovalenko is a nice piece but he's an RFA at season's end and there's always the risk he decides he'd rather go back to the KHL and be a top 6 guy instead of faffing around on the 3rd line of a bottom feeder like the Sharks. If Bordeleau, or Gushchin can't beat him out then they weren't making the NHL roster anyways. Robins always struck me as more of a 4th liner, and Coe seems like he's probably toast anyways.

I mean more that it suggests that the organization doesn't have faith in those players.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Thanks.

The article says it's not Blackwood hitting on any one of the 3 conditions. It's that two of the three have to be satisfied:

30+ starts, 25+ wins, and/or the Avs make it to the 3rd round of the playoffs (Conf. Finals).

With 53 games to go and Blackwood having 19 GP with the Sharks I agree that 30 GS is reasonable. He'll be hard pressed to reach 25 wins though considering he's never started 50+ games in a year and he'd have to win like 80%+ of his starts to even have a chance of sniffing 25 wins with the Avs.

Damnit, you're right. Totally skirted over that portion.

 

[Alaskanice]

Welcome to San Jose, Alexander and Nikolai

 

[rideaucrusher21]

I like the trade. As others have mentioned, it will be interesting to see the direction the Sharks go now. Georgiev for the full on tank, or we get Askarov. I’ll be happy with either option. If it’s Georgiev and the tank, might as well find trading partners quickly for Ceci/Granlund/etc.

 

[Jargon]

I like to imagine that Grier called Colorado and said, "I need all of your Russians."

Kovalenko sounds kind of like a fun player, curious to see what he can do. Sounds fast, pretty skilled with a very high motor -- sounds almost Mikey Eyssimontish. Curious to see where he slots in.

 

[The Nemesis]

I like the trade. As others have mentioned, it will be interesting to see the direction the Sharks go now. Georgiev for the full on tank, or we get Askarov. I’ll be happy with either option. If it’s Georgiev and the tank, might as well find trading partners quickly for Ceci/Granlund/etc.

They'll want to wait on the others. Goalies are hard to deal because bad goaltending will sink a team faster than holes in their roster, so teams that need a goalie to be competitive have to get it done sooner rather than later. But teams that need another top 6 F or a depth D will need them all the way to the trade deadline, at which point Grier can use the panic and scarcity to try and drive up the price.

basically the price on Blackwood was probably never going to be higher than it is now, whereas the price on Ceci or Granlund can't get any lower between now and the deadline short of them getting hurt.

 

[Celly4Celebrini]

It's in the Sharks' announcement of the trade:

Sharks acquire goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko and two draft selections from Colorado | San Jose Sharks

San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) General Manager Mike Grier announced today that the club has acquired goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko, Colorado’s 2026 second-round selection, and a conditional fifth-round draft selection in 2025 in exchange for goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood...

www.nhl.com

There's a couple more conditions where it could upgrade to a 4th but the 30GP is the only one I think is likely.

has to be 2 i believe

have to believe that the 3rd round is more likely than 25 wins unless he starts 40 games in Colorado

 

[rideaucrusher21]

They'll want to wait on the others. Goalies are hard to deal because bad goaltending will sink a team faster than holes in their roster, so teams that need a goalie to be competitive have to get it done sooner rather than later. But teams that need another top 6 F or a depth D will need them all the way to the trade deadline, at which point Grier can use the panic and scarcity to try and drive up the price.

basically the price on Blackwood was probably never going to be higher than it is now, whereas the price on Ceci or Granlund can't get any lower between now and the deadline short of them getting hurt.

Makes sense. Hopefully it’ll be a seller’s market at the deadline

 

[matt trick]

Given the option to keep him, I'd have preferred that. That may have not been an option because A) Blackwood wasn't interested B) High likelihood of Blackwood/Askarov controversy.

If a move was to be made I like that we got a future 2nd and apparently decent NHL forward. Is he better than Koistin, Grundstrom, Delly, Goody, and Goose to take our 9th* forward spot?

Askarov also looked good in the NHL and dominant in the AHL. Avs should be a threat this year, not sure I see them making the WCF- though they crushed the Peg last year.



*I've got Kunin 8th; we should keep him... but that's a different topic.

 

[sampler]

Surprised sampler isn't throwing a fit in here because Grier is trying to tank his sure thing over-under bet.

hahah!! Askarov is just as good (or better)... I actually think this could make the sharks a better team...

I wanna see what kovalenko brings.... I also think a '26 2nd rounder alone is not a great return. its not terribly bad either. Usually, a guy like blackwood wold not have huge value, but the avs are in a beggars cant be choosers position. They are desperate, and they needed a deal NOW. This is why I wanted to see how much grier could extract as I dont think there were many other blackwood-level goalies out there.

All that said, we'll take it, and it costs the sharks nothing, so anything they do get is just pure 'profit'. An extra 2nd in '26 and a potential top 9 forward is not a bad haul and it gives askarov a "practice" year this year to establish himself going into the next year, when I expect the sharks to begin taking a shot at the PO's.

All in all: its a B+/A- trade for the sharks and a solid A for the Avs.

They'll want to wait on the others. Goalies are hard to deal because bad goaltending will sink a team faster than holes in their roster, so teams that need a goalie to be competitive have to get it done sooner rather than later. But teams that need another top 6 F or a depth D will need them all the way to the trade deadline, at which point Grier can use the panic and scarcity to try and drive up the price.

basically the price on Blackwood was probably never going to be higher than it is now, whereas the price on Ceci or Granlund can't get any lower between now and the deadline short of them getting hurt.

I agree fully with this sentence. Now is indeed the perfect time to make the move. Grier had all the leverage and all the power in this negotiation. The question is: did he extract all the value given his bargaining position strength?

 

[Star Platinum]

Not an ideal time to move Blackwood but a 2nd is a good return. Askarov is probably ready and it’s time to make a lane for him. Sharks are going to take a lot more Ls in this situation though haha

Any time we got offered a good pick was the right time to move Blackwood. Wait too long and we ran the risk of losing him for nothing.

 

[tahoesharksfan]

Time for Asky to get some experience in the bigs...

 

[Internazionale]

Don't know much about Kovalenko but seems like he's not just some random throw in...

From what I'm reading, Kovalenko was a top 6 player and played really well before being bumped down to the third line because of returning players. Sounds like a Kunin type player that will chip in a goal every now and then.

 

[gaucholoco3]

I hate to break it to everyone but the Sharks are not going to waive Georgiev. Askarov might be promoted for tomorrow’s game but he will stay with the Cuda unless one of the 2 on 1-way deals gets hurt.