There is no question about it. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood has put the Colorado Avalanche in a very comfortable spot to start the season. He has been the starter for the entire season and is first in the league with 10 wins. To add to that, Wedgewood maintains only a single regulation loss in 14 games played this season. The Avalanche brought over Mackenzie Blackwood as their future goaltender. However, we should ask if that is still the case now with Wedgewood’s performance.


A key question is whether Blackwood can reclaim his spot from last season. Blackwood had surgery to fix a lingering injury during the summer. Then, in August, a setback further postponed his comeback. Then Wedgewood took on the Avalanche’s starting position. He’s been excellent up to this point. Wedgewood holds a 2.26 goals-allowed average and .913 save percentage. He is performing well above his career numbers.

Blackwood has played in three games so far this season and has not looked that great. He has a record of 2–0–0–1 with a 3.28 goals-allowed average and .870 save percentage. These numbers are well below his career average, even from when he was playing with the San Jose Sharks. The best way for a goalie to get better is to play games, but head coach Jared Bednar seems to think otherwise.

“I hate to sound cruel,” said Bednar. “But, that’s a Blackie problem. At this point, it’s not a problem for me. I have lots of confidence in Blackie, and I know there’s lots of minutes between here and the end of the season, right? But Wedge is playing great, so I’m not gonna not play Wedge to play Blackie at this point. So those minutes come in practice and hard work. He’s been doing that, and he’ll get his games, and if we have to alternate him, like this becomes a popular question. Wedge is rested and ready to go on Sunday. I’m not gonna not play him, because Blackie needs minutes. There’s plenty of time to give him the minutes right now; we’re gonna play a rested goalie and play the goalie that gives us a really good chance.”

Quote provided by Darren McKee of Altitude Radio

Earlier this week, the Avalanche signed Wedgewood to a one-year contract extension. That occurred because of his performance, in addition to Ilya Nabokov. Upon moving to Colorado, the Russian goalie might require a period of adapting to the North American game. Having Wedgewood will give the Avalanche that time. Also, it will ensure that the Colorado Eagles will have solid goaltending with Trent Miner playing beside Nabokov.

Obviously, the Avalanche and Bednar have faith in Blackwood. But it seems their faith lies in Wedgewood more in the moment. He is on pace to break his career high of 26 starts set back with the Arizona Coyotes in 2021–22. Also, seeing the Avalanche having confidence in a goaltender is so refreshing compared to this time last year. Approximately one year ago, the team added Wedgewood to the roster and traded Justus Annunen to the Nashville Predators. Either way, Wedgewood is the goalie that the Avalanche are going to start for the moment, and Blackwood will have to fight for his job back.