<p>The <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/colorado-avalanche/line-combinations">Colorado Avalanche</a> are locking down their netminder for the future.</p>



<p>On Friday, the team announced they had signed goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to a five-year contract extension. The deal, which will kick in next season, will have an AAV of $5.25 million through the 2029-30 campaign, per <em>Sportsnet’s </em>Elliotte Friedman.</p>



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="et" dir="ltr">$5.25M AAV <a href="https://t.co/y7n3ZKkh5b">https://t.co/y7n3ZKkh5b</a></p>— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) <a href="https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1872695823517278569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



<p>Blackwood was a pending unrestricted free agent as he is in the final season of his two-year contract that he signed with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/san-jose-sharks/line-combinations">San Jose Sharks</a> on July 2023, which has a cap hit of $2.35 million.</p>



<p>The 28-year-old has made a significant impression in his short time in Denver. The <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/avalanche-acquire-blackwood-from-sharks-as-part-of-deal-for-georgiev-kovalenko">Avalanche acquired him from the Sharks</a>, along with Givani Smith and a draft pick, for Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko and two picks on Dec. 9. </p>



<p>In his four appearances with Colorado, Blackwood has gone 3-1 with a 2.03 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage. That includes a 39-save performance against the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/nashville-predators/line-combinations">Nashville Predators</a> in his debut with the team on Dec. 14.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="168"></div>



<p>In 13 games thus far in 2024-25, Blackwood is 9-10-3 with a 2.83 GAA, a .914 SV% and one shutout.</p>



<p>The Thunder Bay, Ontario native joined the Sharks after the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/new-jersey-devils/line-combinations">New Jersey Devils</a> traded him in June 2023. Blackwood was a highly-touted goaltending prospect when the Devils took him in in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft. However, injuries and a couple of tough seasons in New Jersey led to him being sent to the Golden State. </p>



<p>That said, Blackwood’s play with subpar teams has kept him in the conversation to play for Team Canada in a best-on-best tournament. However, he was left off the roster for the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/usa-announces-roster-for-2025-4-nations-face-off">upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off.</a></p>



<p>In 219 NHL appearances, Blackwood has a career record of 84-92-25 with a 3.05 GAA, a .905 SV% and 11 shutouts. He has yet to play in a Stanley Cup Playoff game. </p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="148"></div>



<p>The Avalanche (21-15-0) are third in the Central Division, nine points back of the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/winnipeg-jets/line-combinations">Winnipeg Jets</a> for first place.</p>
