The Sharks made a massive trade on Monday, sending goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, forward Givani Smith, and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for goalie Alexandar Georgiev, forward Nikolai Kovalenko, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2025 fifth-round pick.
Mackenzie Blackwood has been the Sharks' best goalie this season, compiling a 6-9-3 record, 3.00 goals-against average, .911 save percentage, and one shutout in 17 starts and 19 games. In 12 of his 17 starts this season, Blackwood has allowed three or less goals while facing an average of 33 shots on goal per game. He is also a pending unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. In total, Blackwood is 81-91-25 with a 3.07 GAA, .905 save percentage, and 11 shutouts in 201 starts in 215 NHL games.
The other significant piece heading to Colorado is Givani Smith, who has no points in six games with the Sharks this season and last played on November 25. In addition, Givani Smith served as a healthy scratch in the Sharks' past six games. In total, Givani Smith has nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points and 260 penalty minutes in 161 NHL games with the Sharks, Florida Panthers, and Detroit Red Wings.
As for Georgiev, he and the rest of the Avalanche goaltending have been struggling for much of this season, compiling an 8-7-0 record, 3.38 goals-against average, and .874 save percentage in 17 starts in 18 games. Like Blackwood, Alexandar Georgiev is a pending unrestricted free agent after this season. In total, Georgiev has a 144-89-22 record, 2.89 GAA, .907 save percentage, and 15 shutouts in 272 NHL regular-season games with the Avalanche and New York Rangers. Although he has been struggling and inconsistent this season, Georgiev is plenty capable of being a number one goalie when performing well and at his best.
The other significant trade chip heading to the Sharks is Nikolai Kovalenko, who has four goals and four assists for eight points in 28 games this season.
The 2025 fifth-rounder heading to the Sharks from the Avalanche could become the worse of Colorado's two fourth-round picks under two of these three conditions: if the Avs reach the Western Conference Final this season, Blackwood wins 25 games from now through the end of the regular season, and/or Blackwood starts 30 games from now through the end of the regular season.
Overall, I don't like that Mackenzie Blackwood had to be the Sharks goaltender to get dealt this soon, especially for another goalie who has been struggling this season. However, that's the only aspect of this trade that I consider to be a downside. For all we know, a change of scenery could benefit Alexandar Georgiev, and he could turn things around in teal, which is what I hope happens. I was hoping Mackenzie Blackwood would stick around for future seasons since he has been performing well for the Sharks since he was acquired from the Devils for a sixth-round pick two offseasons ago, but he offered the most trade value of any of the Sharks' current netminders. In addition, this is a stepping stone for Yaroslav Askarov to eventually take over as the Sharks' number one goaltender as soon as next season or potentially right after the trade deadline. Although I hate to see Blackwood leave, and the Avalanche win this trade for this season due to completely revamping their goaltending, the Sharks will be fine going forward.
Source: NHL App
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