The Colorado Avalanche got the sort of injury news they did not want to hear. Earlier this week, coach Jared Bednar provided a none-too-encouraging update on Logan O’Connor. Now, this news breaks.
The Avalanche have placed goalie MacKenzie Blackwood on IR on Friday. The move comes as a bit of a shock, considering how well Blackwood has been playing since returning from IR earlier this season.
We have recalled Taylor Makar and Trent Miner from the Colorado Eagles.
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 2, 2026
Mackenzie Blackwood has been placed on injured reserve. pic.twitter.com/IN5VcNOiaf
There isn’t a definitive moment in which Blackwood sustained an injury. At the moment, it’s being called a “lower body” injury, suggesting it could be related to Blackwood’s offseason surgery.
As Corey Masisak of the Denver Post reported, Blackwood was on the ice for practice on Thursday but left before the full practice session began.
It’s tough to speculate what the precise issue could be at this point. With goalies, hip, groin, and knee issues are always a consistent concern.
In the best of cases, it might just be a matter of rest. As such, the move to IR is just a technical issue that allows the club to recall Trent Miner from the AHL. It’s worth noting that placing players on IR is an administrative issue that frees up a roster space for replacements to be recalled.
Blackwood goes down during critical stretch for Avalanche
The Avalanche will set out on a three-game road trip this weekend with a back-to-back set against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday and then the Florida Panthers on Sunday. The Avs will close out the road trip against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
As such, Scott Wedgewood will likely get the call on Saturday and Tuesday. That situation means that Miner could see action on Sunday against the Panthers. It’s unlikely that Bednar will roll with Wedgewood for three games in four nights.
Blackwood’s absence will make it challenging for the Avalanche to maintain their ridiculously high level of play. Fortunately, Wedgewood has been stellar this season. In addition, Trent Miner has looked good in his limited NHL time.
That’s why, despite the concerning injury update, the Avalanche should be fine. The Avs are one of the best defensive teams in the NHL this season. Therefore, there’s plenty of reason to believe that Miner will get as much support as possible in his appearances.
There’s no timetable for Blackwood’s return. Regular stints on IR last 10 days. That means Blackwood could be back somewhere around January 12 when the Avalanche host the Toronto Maple Leafs.