The Colorado Avalanche assigned goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to the Colorado Eagles on a conditioning loan. Blackwood has been out the entire season so far because of injury. He has taken part in limited team practices, but mostly he has restricted his activities. Hockey Mountain High was the first to report that Blackwood was one of the injured players skating before informal skates in mid-September.

How long this could be

Usually, a player on a conditioning loan can only stay for a limited time. Typically, the standard is six days and three games. The Eagles do not play until Saturday against the Coachella Valley Firebirds (SEA). They then play the Ontario Reign (LAK) on Sunday and the Firebirds again on Tuesday. Technically, if the Eagles accept Blackwood on Saturday, he could play in all three games.

History

This would not be the first time that the Avalanche have used the Eagles to do a conditioning loan. Last season, Gabriel Landeskog played two games in Loveland. It was part of his three-year journey back to the ice and helped prove that he was ready to play. During Landeskog’s loan, the captain tallied a goal and an assist. Landeskog mentioned that having the Eagles so close made it so easy.

Goaltender Pavel Francouz also did a four-game stint with the Eagles December 2021 in route to a Stanley Cup. While with the Eagles, Francouz started all four games and had goals allowed average of 1.52. He had a save percentage of .952 as well.

The Colorado Eagles have become an important part of the development of players besides rehabilitation. When the Avalanche trusted their most valued player with Landeskog, in Loveland, it only strengthened the relationship of the two. The Eagles will now just become a normal step in returning from a long-term injury, especially since they are only 60 miles away.