One of the most dramatic and memorable moments of last season for the Colorado Avalanche was Scott Wedgewood’s introduction. Barely having arrived after having been traded, he had to come into the game against the Buffalo Sabres with the Avs down 0-4 in the first intermission.
He held strong and steadied the ship and gave the team the opportunity to forge the improbable comeback to a 5-4 win in regulation. He followed that up by the iconic “four lines, six D, two tendies… all year” speech. It was as though, with his arrival, the team could finally release the collective breath that they had been holding.
Wedgewood with the big hat 🧢#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/xaZn5SkVT7
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 4, 2024
A refuge amid drama and chaos
Scott Wedgewood’s arrival did not result in an end to the upheaval that the Avalanche experienced last season. He was there for many wins and many losses. He was there for the Rantanen-Necas/Drury trade. He was there for the trade deadline. He was there for the final push. He was there for the tragic ending of the team’s postseason dreams. And through it all, he played good, solid hockey and supported his teammates off the ice. Wedgewood said in an interview with Guerilla Sports that he looks for one or two ways in which he can find common ground with each teammate and connect with him. He wants them to know that he has their back, whether at practice, in a game, in the locker room, and beyond.
Setting the stage for a new season
Now that he has established himself on the team and in the locker room, Wedgewood is in a position to help the team gel before they even take the ice for the first game of the season. It was apparent with the revolving cast of characters that the Avs continuously felt off-balance chemistry-wise. There was so much change that they never really had a chance to settle into their group identity. Building off what he started last season, Wedgewood will be an integral part of finding the right balance between discipline and levity. He promotes a “play for each other” mentality and ensures that he is the first one to embody that mindset.
It starts in practice
As mentioned in the same Guerilla Sports interview referenced above, Wedgewood highlighted practices and game-day skates as an important time for him to help his team as the backup goalie. He makes sure to support his teammates in any way that they need, even if it means taking shot after shot after shot from them. He said that he has a lot of experience working with different players, which means that he can offer a broader point-of-view to anyone who asks for the input.
"[If] you're not having fun coming to the rink, you're not gonna be able to have fun on the ice."Scott Wedgewood (via NHL.com article)
Chatter on the bench and on the ice
Wedgewood is also well-positioned to mentor the team from the bench on game days. He can watch the play unfold, make observations, and provide encouragement as needed. He builds up the small and big successes at both the individual and team level. When it comes time for Wedgewood to take his turn in net, his focus (besides stopping the puck) is on maintaining open lines of communication with his teammates. He is quick to give grace when a play results in an unfortunate bounce as well as to give props when a guy gives the extra effort to make his job easier. He knows that it is a lot easier to keep the vibes high if the team is winning.
Scott Wedgewood update via Instagram: "The game within the game, always learning. One of my favorite things is talking out situations and thoughts about certain scenarios" pic.twitter.com/bJzPkKcQHF
— Avalanche Forever (@citchmook) August 27, 2025
As the Colorado Avalanche start gearing up for the 2025-2026 season, Wedgewood will be one of the team leaders that can help find a balance between work and play amid the demands of chasing the Stanley Cup. He epitomizes all of the best qualities of a team-first guy. It will be fun to see how his role evolves this season and how he helps keep the ship steady as it progresses.