The Colorado Avalanche could be opening up training camp on an inauspicious note. Reports suggest that the Avs may have to deal with injuries to starting goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood and blue liner Samuel Girard.
According to Brennan Vogt, Blackwood hasn’t been part of on-ice drills after apparently injuring himself making a save. That’s no bueno for the Avalanche as the team is counting on Blackwood to be a major part of the club’s success this season.
Blackwood just did a butterfly in the crease and was in some obvious pain. #Avs #GoAvsGo @HockeyMtnHighCO
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) September 15, 2025
While there hasn’t been any official word on a potential injury to Blackwood, the reports are hardly encouraging.
Blackwood started 37 games for the Avalanche last season, posting solid numbers. His 2.33 GAA and .913 SV% were a significant upgrade over previous starter, Alexandar Georgiev.
If Blackwood misses any time during the regular season, backup Scott Wedgewood will get the nod. Wedgewood has been a steady hand since arriving in Colorado. Wedgewood had stellar numbers last season for the Avalanche. He sported a 1.99 GAA and .917 SV% in 19 games.
Having Wedgewood in the fold is comforting, but not ideal if he’s the starter heading into the season.
As for who might back up Wedgewood, that’s an entirely different story. The Avalanche don’t have a third-string goalie who could step into a full-time backup role in the NHL. It’s unlikely rookie Ilya Nabokov gets the call. So, it’ll likely be 24-year-old Trent Miner who’ll get a shot at backing up Wedgewood.
Blackwood injury scare highlights need for goaltending depth
Thus far, news of Blackwood’s injury could be chalked up to an injury scare. But the situation highlights the need for organizational depth in the crease. It used to be where teams could ride their starting goalie for 60 or even 70 games a season.
That’s hardly the case anymore. Teams realize that a tandem is the best way to go. However, tandems are only good if both goalies remain healthy. Smart clubs know this. So, they land a reliable third-string goalie to ensure they don’t throw an unproven or untested goalie to the wolves.
The Buffalo Sabres proved that this offseason by signing Alex Lyon and Alexandar Georgiev. Lyon was meant to be the backup to starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Prospect Devon Levi was considered the third-stringer. But the Sabres went out and got Georgiev anyway.
That situation gives the Sabres four goalies to roll with in case anything happens. And guess what, reports have surfaced that Luukkonen is hurt. So now, the Sabres can rely on Lyon to take over and have Levi and Georgiev handle backup duties.
Sure, Levi and Georgiev aren’t the most spectacular options. But considering that the Sabres’ other two goaltending prospects are nowhere near ready for prime time, it makes sense to have a veteran goalie just in case.
That’s why the Avalanche need to take a page out of the Sabres’ book and find a reliable third-stringer to spell Blackwood or Wedgewood in case any of them go down.