The Colorado Avalanche are entering the 2026-27 season with as stable a goaltending tandem as they’ve had in years.
While neither goalie is among the elite group in the NHL, Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood still give the Avalanche a level of certainty that they didn’t have for several seasons before their arrival. And considering how some of those years have played out, that’s significant for a team that simply needs above-average goaltending to be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
With that being said, Blackwood still has something to prove.
The Avalanche’s starter showed flashes of elite play last season but struggled to maintain that level over the course of the year. Missing training camp didn’t help, and neither did spending extended stretches on the bench while Wedgewood earned a larger share of the workload.
Colorado needs a more consistent version of Blackwood this season.
As for Wedgewood, he enjoyed the best campaign of his career. The 33-year-old won a career-high 31 games, which is one-third of his career total after a decade in the NHL. More importantly, he proved the Avalanche have far more than just a capable backup. They have one of the league’s strongest 1B tandem goalies.
But the most intriguing goaltending storyline may not involve either veteran.
It involves Ilya Nabokov.
Selected in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft, Nabokov arrives in North America after establishing himself as one of the KHL’s top young goaltenders. At 23 years old, he’ll likely begin the season with the Colorado Eagles, where he’ll battle Trent Miner for starts while continuing to adjust to the North American game.
The question isn’t whether Nabokov will play in the NHL someday.
It’s whether that opportunity comes this season.
Whether it’s because of injuries or because he forces the organization’s hand with his play, it feels likely Nabokov will get at least a taste of NHL action at some point. If he does, how he handles that opportunity could have significant implications for Colorado’s future in net.
Wedgewood is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, while Blackwood still has four years remaining on his contract. Colorado isn’t looking to make changes now, but the long-term picture could shift quickly if Nabokov proves he’s ready.
That’s what makes his development one of the most fascinating storylines to follow this season. And why it’s something I’ll be keeping an eye on all year.