Mackenzie Blackwood will make his 2025-26 season debut for the Colorado Avalanche against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.
The former Sharks goalie underwent off-season surgery for a lower-body injury. Blackwood has dressed as the Avalanche’s backup goalie to Scott Wedgewood in each of the last two games.
“I didn’t want to rush myself back, I know they did a great job of managing it and making sure everything was good to go,” Blackwood told reporters on Thursday. “I feel great now, it’s just full steam ahead.”
The San Jose Sharks acquired Nikolai Kovalenko and Alexandar Georgiev from the Avalanche in exchange for Blackwood last season.
Blackwood appeared in 37 games for the Avalanche, starting 36, and finished his first campaign with a record of 22-12-3. His .913 save % and 2.33 GAA earned him a massive extension with the Avalanche.
The 28-year-old signed a five-year extension with an average annual value of $5.25 million.
When the Sharks acquired Blackwood from the Devils, many thought his career was on its last legs. Blackwood was able to stay healthy and play well in goal for a team that struggled to defend.
The Sharks and Blackwood had brief conversations about a possible extension, but with Yaroslav Askarov waiting in the wings, both sides agreed that the long-term fit wasn’t there.
Blackwood and the Avalanche will look to slow down the Sharks, who have begun to find their game at the SAP Center on Saturday. The Sharks have won three of their last five games, including beating the now 8-3 Devils 5-2.
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