Georgiev traded to Sharks by Avalanche for Blackwood 

Blackwood was in his second season with San Jose after being acquired in a commerce with the Devils on June 27, 2023. He’s within the ultimate season of a two-year, $4.7 million contract ($2.35 million common annual worth) and may develop into an unrestricted free agent July 1.

“I am not going to touch upon contract negotiations or something like that,” MacFarland stated. “Clearly, we wish the participant to get settled in right here, concentrate on the hockey, and when the time is correct, we’ll actually see if there’s one thing that that may make sense. I might be mendacity to you if I stated we’re buying him for 4 months of hockey. We’ll let him do his factor, maintain what has to [be taken] care of on the ice. … The main target proper now could be on hockey, and that is the place I feel it will keep within the close to future.”

In 215 NHL video games (201 begins) with the Sharks and Devils, Blackwood is 81-91-25 with a 3.07 GAA, .905 save proportion and 11 shutouts.

“I feel we’re getting a man in Blackwood that is gained some expertise within the League, has actually type of come into his personal and matured as a No. 1 goaltender right here,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar stated Tuesday. “He is off to an excellent begin to the yr. I feel it is in all probability an space of our sport the place we would have liked some modifications. I feel it might be a very good commerce for Georgiev and a very good commerce for us, as effectively. And I feel our guys are excited. We noticed the distinction simply with the mixup with Wedgewood coming into the lineup, the veteran expertise, outgoing persona.”

Georgiev is 8-7-0 with a 3.38 GAA and .874 save proportion in 18 video games (17 begins) this season. He led goalies with 38 wins final season and tied for the lead with 40 in 2022-23, his first season with Colorado.

The 28-year-old is within the ultimate season of a three-year contract and may develop into an unrestricted free agent after the season. He’s 144-89-22 with a 2.89 GAA, .907 save proportion and 15 shutouts in 272 regular-season video games (258 begins) with the Avalanche and New York Rangers.

He might play his first sport with the Sharks (10-15-5) towards the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, NBCSCA).

Smith didn’t have some extent in six video games with the Sharks this season, final taking part in Nov. 25. He had been scratched the previous six video games. In 161 NHL video games with the Sharks, Florida Panthers and Detroit Pink Wings, the 26-year-old has 22 factors (9 objectives, 13 assists) and 260 penalty minutes.

Kovalenko has eight factors (4 objectives, 4 assists) in 28 video games this season. The 25-year-old was scratched from the Avalanche’s 4-0 win towards the Devils on Sunday.

“You bought to present to get. The goalie market is, it is a bear,” MacFarland stated. “It is not straightforward in-season to get goaltenders, beginning goaltenders on this league, and we wished to get forward of it, and that was the price of doing enterprise. … They’re at some extent the place they’re taking part in actually aggressive hockey and there is a variety of pleasure happening with the Sharks, and [general manager Mike Grier] noticed a chance so as to add a younger participant on the proper age for his combine. … It is actually not a participant that we have been seeking to transfer, per se, however that was one of many items that San Jose was drawn to. So, whereas we weren’t excited to maneuver Nikolai, we simply felt that [for] the chance so as to add Mackenzie, we needed to swallow exhausting and embrace him within the deal.”

The 2025 fifth-round decide going going to San Jose might develop into the more serious of Colorado’s two fourth-round picks if two of those three situations are met:

* The Avalanche attain the Western Convention Last this season.

* Blackwood wins 25 video games from Monday by means of the top of the common season.

* Blackwood begins 30 video games from Monday by means of the top of the common season.