Saturday Stats: Merry Christmas Mackenzie

2 weeks ago  /  Mile High Hockey

Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images


The Avs new goalie got a big new deal from Santa and it should have every Colorado fan excited. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and a wondrous holiday of any sort to all of you. I had a nice Christmas with my girlfriend’s family and am currently having a nice Hanukah with her and our friends in town since going home to my family wasn’t in the cards this year. But nothing we or you is gonna get from Santa or Judah Maccabee or whoever you let down your chimney is gonna compare in the slightest to Mackenzie Blackwood’s gift from Chris “Kringle” McFarland this yuletide.


Blackwood’s thoughts on his new deal…“Merry Christmas.”Said he was looking for some term after taking some shorter deals in recent years.— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) December 27, 2024




$26.5 million is a hell of a gift. Santa himself couldn’t have delivered all that cash in one sleigh ride. I think. I don’t know exactly how Santa’s magic works, I only understand Hot Frosty. Regardless, McFarland delivered on his intention to lock in a starting goaltender, keeping Blackwood in burgundy and blue for next five years with a $5.25M cap hit per season.
That feels rich at first glance for a guy with a somewhat limited track record despite amazing statistics so far with his new team, but with the salary cap expected to jump from $88 to $92 Million next season Blackwood won’t actually be taking up a significantly higher percentage of the cap than Alexandar Georgiev did at $3.5M.
It is more, don’t get me wrong, but an established starting goalie in his prime should cost more than a young former backup getting a shot at becoming one. That’s the difference here - when Georgiev got his 3x3.5, he was essentially a talented prospect - sure, he had been in the NHL for years, but he was sharing a net with Igor Sheshterkin and hadn’t proven he could start consistently.
Blackwood already did that. His time in San Jose was that same chance, going from talented prospect in New Jersey to starter behind a terrible Sharks team that forged him into the guy we’ve seen so far in a Colorado Avalanche sweater. The difference between this deal and whatever Georgiev signs this offseason is simple: Blackwood spent his bridge deal building up the mental side of his game to let his talent shine through consistently, and Georgiev was not able to do the same.
SATURDAY STATS
.971: Blackwood’s save percentage against Utah
Whew, that’s fantastic - and they needed it. In the other net, Karel Vejmelka was goalieing the Avs for two periods, giving up just one on a barrage of shots in a dominant stretch of possession for Colorado. When Utah tied it up and pushed hard in the third, Blackwood shut the door and gave his team a chance to regroup and get the win - that’s what he’s here for, and it’s great to see him prove it right after signing the new deal.
.917: Blackwood’s save percentage this season
It’s gone up since he got to Colorado, which may not be sustainable but is certainly encouraging. He’s likely to come down closer to his career .905 average at some point, which is still a drastic improvement for the Avalanche.
16: Goalies with higher cap hits than Blackwood’s 5.25
17 if you count Carey Price, but let’s not. That puts Blackwood squarely in the middle of the pack for starting goaltender salaries.


Puckpedia

4: Starting Goalies with higher save percentages than Blackwood’s .917 this season
That puts Blackwood squarely in the top of the pack.
2: Goalies youngers than Blackwood with a higher cap hit
That may not seem like a significant stat, but what it means is the Avs have 5 prime years of this guy - goalies peak later than skaters, generally from age 26 - 33. Blackwood’s deal expires when he’ll be 33. That’s arguably perfect. Many of the guys getting paid more than him are getting paid into their late 30s, and while there are some Sergei Bobrovskys out there who stay good late, there are more Carey Prices who just can’t.
3: Goals by Artturi Lekhonen last night
First career hattrick for Lehky! And they couldn’t have been more Lehky goals, two against the goalie set up by masterful zone entries and vision from Nathan MacKinnon and an empty netter as a nice cap to a big hat night.


Artturi Lehkonen records his first career hat trick in a big @Avalanche W! Hat Trick Challenge presented by @AstraZenecaUS pic.twitter.com/9iGyP5pdWz— NHL (@NHL) December 28, 2024




3: Goals by Joel Kiviranta against Seattle
Two empty netters for Kivi sealed the win and the hattrick, after a rocket of shot for his first. The Finns are making a serious difference for this team right now.
3: Hattricks for Mikko Rantanen so far this season
The King of the Finns is now the second leading scorer in the NHL, behind only Nathan MacKinnon.
3: Goals by Colorado in the third period last night
With 0 against despite a tough stretch of play, thanks to Blackwood.
4: Goals given up by Georgiev in the third period last night
Enough said.
PREDICTIONS
Last column I was perfect, and on the podcast I predicted the Seattle and Utah wins too so I’m counting those. This week I’ll go:
vs. Winnipeg: OTWvs. Buffalo: W
Season Total: 20-17
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