The NHL trade market continues to heat up, and the Colorado Avalanche are making a change at the goaltender position. The Avalanche have acquired veteran netminder Mackenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for goaltender Alexandar Georgiev and other assets.
Blackwood has spent the last two seasons with the Sharks, and has compiled a 6-9-3 record, a 3.00 goals-against average, and a .910 save percentage thus far this season. Meanwhile, Georgiev had been with the Avalanche since 2022 when he replaced Darcy Kuemper, who left to sign with the Washington Capitals in free agency that summer.
In addition, the New York Rangers shook up their roster earlier this month when they shipped defenseman Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks.
Trouba was named the 28th captain in Rangers history ahead of the 2022-23 season, but it didn’t take long for trade speculation to begin. Last offseason, there were murmurs that New York was looking to offload Trouba and his contract, but a deal never materialized.
Now, with the team struggling in recent weeks, general manager Chris Drury opted for change and sent Trouba to the Ducks in exchange for former first-round pick Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round pick.
The Avalanche and Rangers aren’t the only teams that have been active on trade market early in the season. The Minnesota Wild also gave up a nice haul to acquire former No. 6 overall pick David Jiricek from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Jiricek could be another foundational piece on the Minnesota defense, along with Brock Faber.
Keep track of the most notable trades throughout the 2024-25 NHL season right here.
Avalanche land Blackwood from Sharks in goalie swap
The Colorado Avalanche decided that it was time to make a change at goaltender. The team acquired Mackenzie Blackwood, forward Givani Smith and a 2027 fifth-round pick from the Sharks in exchange for goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, forward Nikolai Kovalenko, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fifth-round pick.
Georgiev had been the Avalanche’s starting netminder since the 2022 offseason when the team acquired his services from the Rangers. In 18 games this season, the veteran put together an 8-7-0 record to go along with a 3.38 goals-against average and a .874 save percentage.
Meanwhile, Blackwood has racked up a 6-9-3 record, a 3.00 goals-against average, and a .910 save percentage in 19 games this season. However, Blackwood has been playing much better hockey as of late with a 2.66 goals-against average over his last three games.
Rangers deal Trouba to Ducks for prospect, pick
After months of trade rumors surrounding Trouba, the Rangers finally traded him to the Anaheim Ducks for Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round pick. Trouba had been struggling this season, posting poor five-on-five numbers in the midst of an ugly losing streak.
The Ducks will get a veteran leader on their blue line, and the Rangers shed Trouba’s $8 million cap hit while getting a young prospect in Vaakanainen and some extra draft capital.
Wild acquire David Jiricek from Blue Jackets
David Jiricek, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, failed to really carve out a role for himself in Columbus. When the Blue Jackets put him on the trade block, the Minnesota Wild ponied up with a big offer.
The Wild sent defenseman Daemon Hunt, a 2025 first-round pick, 2026 third-round pick, 2026 fourth-round pick, and 2027 second-round pick to the Jackets as compensation. That’s a big price to pay for an unproven defenseman, but it could be a worthwhile gamble, given Jiricek’s pedigree and AHL performance.
Tomasino was a first-round pick by Nashville in 2019, but he struggled to remain in the lineup on a nightly basis. The Penguins chose to take a shot on the young winger, hoping he could reach his potential and help the team remain in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
The Predators received a fourth-round pick in return for Tomasino, who had 23 goals and 71 points in 159 games with the franchise.
The Colorado Avalanche made a significant move in their goaltending department by acquiring Mackenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks in a trade that sent a goalie swap for the 2024-2025 season. This trade comes as the Avalanche look to solidify their goaltending depth and add a talented netminder to their roster.
Blackwood, who is just 26 years old, brings a wealth of experience and skill to the Avalanche. He has proven himself to be a reliable and consistent goaltender in the NHL, with a career save percentage of .914 and a goals-against average of 2.71. His addition to the Avalanche roster provides them with a strong presence between the pipes and gives them another option in goal.
In exchange for Blackwood, the Avalanche sent a goaltender to the Sharks, although the specific details of the trade have not been disclosed. This move allows the Avalanche to address their goaltending needs while also giving the Sharks an opportunity to add depth to their own roster.
The addition of Blackwood to the Avalanche roster is sure to have an impact on the team’s performance in the upcoming season. With his skill and experience, he has the potential to be a key player for the Avalanche and help them compete at a high level.
Overall, the Avalanche’s acquisition of Mackenzie Blackwood in a goalie swap with the Sharks is a significant move that has the potential to strengthen their goaltending department and improve their chances of success in the 2024-2025 season. Fans will be eager to see how Blackwood performs with his new team and how he helps the Avalanche in their quest for a Stanley Cup.
