Trade Grades: Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks swap goaltenders

Another day, another goaltender trade that the Colorado Avalanche are involved in. Colorado sent Justus Annunen to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Scott Wedgewood just nine days ago, but made another move today. The Avalanche acquired goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks, along with forward Givani Smith and a fifth-round pick in 2027. In return, the Sharks received goaltender Alexander Georgiev, forward Nikolai Kovalenko, a fifth-round pick in 2025, and a second-round pick in 2026.

Here are my grades for how each team fared in this trade:

Colorado’s Grade: B

This trade was a long time coming. Yesterday, Colorado’s average goaltender save percentage was dead last in the league, and yet, their 16-13-0 record puts them above .500 on the season. To put it simply, this is a good Colorado Avalanche team. This is a team that can contend for the Stanley Cup. But to do that, a goaltending trade needed to happen.

And so it did. Colorado traded for Mackenzie Blackwood, who has put up very respectable numbers behind a defensively woeful San Jose Sharks team. Through 19 games played, Blackwood has a .911 SV%, a 3.00 GAA, and a shutout against the high-offense New Jersey Devils. Colorado also acquired depth forward Givani Smith, who has 22 points through 161 NHL games. 

Now for the downside. Colorado sent a fifth-round pick and a second-round pick to San Jose, but the real loss is Nikolai Kovalenko. Kovalenko is 25, and provided the Avalanche with some much-needed depth scoring. He has eight points through 28 career NHL games. But Kovalenko was a necessary sacrifice. Colorado needed goaltending, and if Kovalenko was the price, then so be it.

San Jose’s Grade: B+

I don’t think either team lost this trade, but I do think that San Jose emerged as the winner. Georgiev isn’t a great goalie, and he makes $3.4 million, but that contract expires at the end of this season. And, really, the Sharks are still rebuilding. They’re not trying to make the playoffs this year. The goaltending position isn’t really a concern right now.

The Sharks also received a solid young player in Kovalenko, and two picks. General Manager Mike Grier is doing a great job so far running the show in San Jose. Sharks fans, your time is coming. This team is going to be a problem soon.