Mackenzie Blackwood’s unexpectedly brief conditioning stint with the Colorado Eagles appears to signal a pivotal step in his recovery, positioning him for an imminent return to the Avalanche’s NHL roster.
DENVER — Mackenzie Blackwood’s conditioning stint with the Colorado Eagles concluded almost as quickly as it began.
While the Avalanche were on a two-game road trip, Blackwood stayed behind in Denver, joining the Eagles on a conditioning loan—an arrangement that allowed him to continue his rehabilitation while practicing in a structured team setting.
On Friday morning, the Avalanche announced via their X account that Blackwood’s conditioning assignment had ended. However, the wording of the statement raised some eyebrows.
“We have terminated Mackenzie Blackwood’s conditioning loan with the Colorado Eagles,” the post read.
Though “terminated” may sound abrupt, the development is likely a positive sign for Colorado, suggesting that Blackwood is ready to rejoin the NHL group, although it doesn’t seem likely that he’ll start on Saturday night against the Boston Bruins when the team comes home for one game before hitting the road to face the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday.
Blackwood Briefly Participated in Optional Skates
As previously reported by The Hockey News, Blackwood participated in his first optional skate on September 5, taking shots from several players. However, as the days progressed, his workload steadily declined. Although he remained on the ice, the reduced volume of his participation prompted some observers to wonder why Scott Wedgewood was absorbing the majority of the reps. It was also noted that Blackwood frequently let out an audible groan whenever he attempted to push off his right leg—a clear indication that he was hurt.
Less than a week later, Blackwood transitioned to the injured skate group, joining Samuel Girard (who has since suffered another injury), Taylor Makar, Jake Wise, and Logan O’Connor. His lingering issues ultimately caused him to miss the entirety of training camp. Then, during the September 30 preseason matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights at Ball Arena, VGK’s broadcast revealed that Blackwood had undergone offseason surgery—a disclosure that came as news to many following the team, including the media themselves. Blackwood missed the remainder of the preseason but rejoined the main group on October 6—his first appearance in over a month—just one day before the Avalanche were set to open their season on the road against the Los Angeles Kings.
When Could Blackwood Return?
As previously noted, it seems improbable that the Avalanche will immediately throw Blackwood into the fire—or perhaps they will. Many anticipated that Trent Miner would receive at least one start within the first five games, yet he has not appeared once. At this point, it feels like only a matter of time before the team releases its inevitable “Trent Miner has been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles” announcement.
If the Avalanche opt for a cautious approach, however, Blackwood—who posted a 22–12–3 record in 36 starts last season, along with a career-best 2.33 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage—could reclaim his role as the starter when the team faces the Mammoth on Tuesday.
What’s Next?
The Avalanche (4-0-1) take on the Bruins (3-2) on Saturday at Ball Arena. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. local time. If you can’t make it to the arena, you can catch the game on Altitude + or ESPN.