Bednar Named Blackwood Starting Goaltender for Avalanche
Colorado head coach Jared Bednar announced the goaltending plan during the team's annual media day.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Hockey
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Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar has officially designated Mackenzie Blackwood as the primary starting goaltender for the upcoming season. The decision follows Blackwood's mid-season acquisition from the San Jose Sharks and his subsequent five-year, $26.25 million contract extension.
Why it matters
The organization secured Blackwood to a long-term deal to serve as the team's starter, signaling a clear shift in the depth chart. This move solidifies the net for Colorado after Blackwood missed the first month of the 2025-26 season due to offseason surgery.
Mackenzie Blackwood, 29, holds a career-best goals-against average of 2.51. Meanwhile, Scott Wedgewood recorded 31 wins, a 2.02 goals-against average, and a .921 save percentage during the 2025-26 regular season.
The players
Jared Bednar
He is the head coach of the Colorado Avalanche responsible for defining team strategies and personnel decisions.
Mackenzie Blackwood
He is a professional goaltender who signed a multi-million dollar contract extension with the Avalanche.
Scott Wedgewood
He is a 33-year-old goaltender who shared the William M. Jennings Trophy last season while recording 31 wins.
Ilya Nabokov
He is a goaltender signed by the Avalanche to a two-year entry-level contract who will develop in the AHL.
The details
Bednar confirmed the rotation plan during media day, noting that Ilya Nabokov is scheduled to begin the season with the AHL Colorado Eagles. While Nabokov could earn minutes with the major league team, the Avalanche are prioritizing the role they envisioned when they extended Blackwood following his December 2024 trade.
Timeline
December 2024: Mackenzie Blackwood was traded to the Colorado Avalanche.
May 2026: Ilya Nabokov signed an entry-level contract with the team.
September 23, 2026: Jared Bednar announced the goaltending lineup at media day.
Season Trajectory
This transition marks a departure from the shared goaltending duties that propelled the team to the Presidents' Trophy last season. By establishing a clear starter, the Avalanche aim to stabilize their defensive foundation throughout the upcoming competitive campaign.
The confirmation of Blackwood as the starter clarifies the goaltending hierarchy for fantasy owners and roster managers looking to gauge volume projections. Ilya Nabokov remains a developmental asset with potential for a mid-season call-up should the team opt to split starts later in the year.
The takeaway
The team is prioritizing long-term contractual investment over the split rotation that defined their recent success. Fans should monitor early-season performance to see if the new primary starter can maintain the high standards previously set by the goaltending pair.
Further reading
For more on the current state of the team, visit our Hockey section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 99.9 The Point.
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