Avalanche goalie hit with unexpected update this offseason
Photo credit: Instagram / Devils.Fanpage
Veteran goaltender Scott Wedgewood marked the beginning of a full-scale goalie revamp for the Colorado Avalanche last season.
Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland wasted no time early in the season addressing his team's desperate need for a better goalie tandem.
Wedgewood hit with unexpected update.
Brennan Vogt from Hockey Mountain High writes that the Avalanche acquired Wedgewood from the Nashville Predators in exchange for Justus Annunen and a fifth-round pick earlier this season. Within just ten days, they followed it up by also trading for Mackenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks.
"The Avalanche always intended Wedgewood to be their backup goalie, and he fulfilled that role perfectly. He came in every few games to give Blackwood a night off and still gave the team a chance to win." -Vogt
The Brampton, Ontario native made just four starts for the Predators before being traded to the Avalanche on November 30, 2024. His time in Nashville saw some of the worst stats of his seven-year NHL career, with a 3.69 GAA and a .878 save percentage.
But after arriving in Denver, Wedgewood quickly turned things around. In 18 starts with the Avalanche, he posted an impressive 1.99 GAA and a .917 save percentage.
"Those numbers would not come without their troubles, of course. On January 2nd, in a game against the Buffalo Sabres, he suffered a devastating injury. Parker Kelly pushed Sabre Zach Benson into Wedgewood and the Sabre recovered for a wraparound goal while Wedgewood was down in pain. The Avalanche eventually fought back in the game and won in overtime." -Vogt
Wedgewood played a crucial role in several wins, providing stability and pose in net that kept the Avalanche competitive. His clam presence and leadership were felt both on the ice and in the locker room, with multiple players praising his impact after his arrival in Denver.
The veteran goaltender has one year remaining on the contract he signed with the Predators, carrying a modest $1.5 million cap hit. The manageable number could help pave the way for rookie Ilya Nabokov to join the Avalanche once he arrives from the KHL next spring.
Previously on Avalanche Insider
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 10 | 32 ANSWERS Avalanche goalie hit with unexpected update this offseason Should the Avalanche re-sign goalie Scott Wedgewood when his contract is done at the end of next season? | ||
| yes | 28 | 87.5 % |
| no | 4 | 12.5 % |
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