Avalanche Hope To Extend Newly Acquired Mackenzie Blackwood
After acquiring Mackenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland is excited about his potential.
After acquiring Mackenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland is excited about his potential.
When asked if he wanted to extend Blackwood, a pending unrestricted free agent after this season, MacFarland didn't want to get into contract discussions but implied that he would like to get his new netminder for over four months.
"We want the player to get settled in here. Focus on the hockey, and then, when the time is right, we'll certainly see if there's something that can make sense," MacFarland said. "I'd be lying if I said we're acquiring him for four months of hockey."
The Avalanche sent Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko, and two draft picks to the Sharks to acquire their new No. 1 goalie. MacFarland said it was a tough pill to swallow to trade away Kovalenko but recognized that it was needed for the deal.
"You got to give to get. The goalie market is [tight]. It's not easy in season to get starting goaltenders in this league, and we wanted to get ahead of it and that was the cost of doing business," MacFarland explained. "Mike [Grier] was in a strong position. They're at a point where they're playing really competitive hockey, and there's a lot of excitement going on with the Sharks. He saw an opportunity to add a young player at the right age for his mix."
MacFarland appreciated Georgiev's efforts in goal for the Avalanche but felt that a change of scenery could help him re-find his game.
"I'm a Georgie believer. I think he's a good goaltender," MacFarland said. "We felt we needed an upgrade a few weeks ago and started kicking tires."
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