The San Jose Sharks dealt Mackenzie Blackwood to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, forward Nikolai Kovalenko, Colorado’s 2026 second-round pick, and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2025. Colorado will retain 14% of Georgiev’s contract as part of the deal.
Along with Blackwood, San Jose also traded Givani Smith, who cleared waivers this morning, and a 2027 7th-round pick in the NHL draft to Colorado.
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Goalie swap 🔁
The #SJSharks have acquired Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko, and two draft picks from the Avalanche.
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) December 9, 2024
Blackwood has been stellar this season. He has a .911 save percentage and a 3.00 GAA. He has a 6-9-3 record across 19 games, with 17 starts. He will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.
The Avalanche desperately needs goaltending. Their team save percentage is .866, the lowest in the league. They recently traded for Scott Wedgewood from the Nashville Predators.
Georgiev was expected to be the Avalanche’s No. 1 goalie, but he has struggled this season, with a .874 save percentage. The Avalanche are retaining 14% of his salary. Georgiev carries a $3.4 million AAV. Like Blackwood, Georgiev’s contract will expire after this season, and he will become an unrestricted free agent.
Kovalenko is a 25-year-old winger who has played 28 games this season and has four goals and four assists.
With Georgiev as part of the trade return, the path to a full-time NHL spot for San Jose Sharks’ top goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov remains similar. The Sharks came into the season with two goalies that will become UFAs after the season. That is still the case following this trade.
Related: Top Sharks Goalie Prospect Continues To Be A Superstar In The AHL
Askarov was acquired from the Predators this summer for three prospects, including David Edstrom, and a draft pick. Askarov is expected to be the No. 1 goalie of the future for Mike Grier and the Sharks.
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