Entering this season, there was a slight question mark regarding the Colorado Avalanche’s goaltending situation. Namely, there was some uncertainty insofar as Scott Wedgewood’s place on the team.
Well, it seems that question is no longer one.
MacKenzie Blackwood has emerged as the clear-cut starter for the Avalanche, while Wedgewood has had a string of rough outings. And while he’s still very much the backup, and a capable one at that.
But there may be some uncertainty about how much longer the organization will choose to keep him on the roster.
The 34-year-old will be a UFA at the end of this season. And so, his 4.02 GAA and .867 SV% have cast doubt on his permanence with the Avalanche.
Could it be that Wedgewood is making it easy for the Avs to choose, say, Ilya Nabokov over time moving forward next season?
It’s certainly a possibllity.
Wedgewood has a $2.5 million cap hit this season. And while he could re-sign for less on his next deal, the bottom line is that Colorado may just embrace the youth movement and let Wedgewood go. Passing on another contract for the veteran backup would free up about $1.5 million in cap space. And with Cale Makar’s monster extension kicking in, it might actually be a good business idea to pass on bringing Wedgewood back.
Avalanche have options if they pass on Scott Wedegwood
The Avalanche don’t need to fret about passing on Scott Wedgewood. There are two solid internal options to replace him.
The most immediate would be Trent Miner. The 25-year-old has been hanging in the wings for the last couple of seasons. He’s played well in his very limited time in the NHL. In six career games, he’s got a 2.23 GAA and a .915 SV%. That warrants a longer look at the Bigs.
Meanwhile, Miner has a 2.53 GAA and a sparkling .921 SV% in four games with the Colorado Eagles this season. He missed the first month of the season with an injury, but since getting back on the ice, he’s looked like a solid starting goalie.
Then, there’s Nabokov. He looks like the heir apparent to crease in Colorado, given how well his development has come along.
In nine games this season, he has a 2.19 AA and a .927 SV% with the Eagles. Those are fantastic numbers, especially for the AHL.
So, would a Blackwood-Nabokov tandem be in the cards next season? Well, not necessarily. There would likely be a training camp battle for the backup goalie spot next season. However, Miner would seem to have the inside track. Miner will require waivers to go down to the Eagles, while Nabokov won’t.
That’s why it would make the most sense to roll with a Blackwood-Nabokov tandem to start next season. And depending on how things go, the organization could make changes on the fly.
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