Avalanche’s “Lumber Yard” Set to Dominate 2025-26

One of the most significant turning points last season for the Colorado Avalanche was the acquisition of Scott Wedgewood from the Nashville Predators and, most importantly, Mackenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks. Both completely turned around the team's goaltending situation for the better, earning the “Lumberyard” nickname from the fans. With their first season down, what does this tag team look like heading into the season, and how can they help the Avalanche get a better start this season?

The Lumberyard 🪵 https://t.co/RKjEGgsslB
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 28, 2024

After Darcy Kuemper left for the Washington Capitals in 2022 Free Agency, the Avalanche had to make a quick pivot in their goaltending situation. Acquiring Alexandar Georgiev from the New York Rangers to be their starting goaltender. His debut season was great, finishing with career highs across the board now that he was given the reins to the starting position and not behind Igor Shesterkin. In 62 games, he finished with a record of 40-16-6, a .918 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.53 goals against average (GAA). Among the entire NHL, he was tied for first in wins with Linus Ullmark, eighth in SV%, and third in games played.

It was an excellent start for the goaltender and the organization. He had some flaws, but he showed that with a great supporting cast in front of him, he could help win you games. However, asking for a goaltender in 60+ games was a lot, and the sudden announcement of Pavel Francouz's retirement made things even more challenging. It was up to rookie Justus Annunen to step up and help Georgiev in relief.

Though the 2023-24 season started to show some of the more minor flaws Georgiev showed in his debut season. He still finished with 38 wins because the team in front of him was so talented, but his stats started to drop. A .919 SV% into a .897 SV%, a 2.53 GAA into a 3.02 GAA. Those trends continued into the 2024-25 season. In just 18 games, he had a .874 SV% and a 3.38 GAA. It was clear that his game had diminished, and given the team's current state, it needed a new face in net.

It started with Wedgewood, a long-time NHL veteran, in hopes of strengthening the backup position, sending Annunen back. Hoping he can come in relief and help Georgiev get his mind right if he struggles a bit, and that is what happened. Wedgewood took over the net due to his outstanding performance and forced Georgiev into a backup position.

As much as Wedgewood was great, he has never been a true “starter” in the NHL. His most extensive playing time was 32 games during the 2022-23 season with the Dallas Stars. It wouldn't be until December that General Manager Chris MacFarland had found his starter in Blackwood.

What was supposed to be the goalie for the future for the New Jersey Devils, taken 42nd overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, was moved to San Jose and now given another chance for a contending team, and he did just that. Being “his favorite team growing up”, Blackwood went 8-1-1 with a .940SV% to start his tenure with the Avalanche and finished the season with a 22-12-3 record with a .913SV% and a 2.33 GAA.

"This was my favorite team growing up," Mackenzie Blackwood Speaks to Colorado Media For the First Time Since TradeMackenzie Blackwood appeared in front of the media for the first time since his trade to the Colorado Avalanche. Availability followed morning skate, which marked Blackwood's first appearance with the team.

The biggest factor that led us to this point is the Avalanche's start. In their first 27 games of the season, they had a record of 14-13-0, with a -13 goal differential. The bad start especially doesn't help when, after acquiring both new goaltenders, they finished the season 32-15-4 and went from last in the Central Division to pushing for the top spot, but since they dug themselves too big of a hole in the beginning, they were stuck in third place for most of the season, near the end.

They were four points behind the Stars, who finished the regular season on a seven-game losing streak and 14 points behind the Winnipeg Jets for first, who, besides being in first for most of the season, had a little stumble near the mid-season but caught themselves and finished strong.

This is where the “Lumber Yard” comes into play. Say the Avalanche started the season 14-6-7, or something similar to that record, and finished the regular season how they did. Those games where they blew a lead late or were blown out from the beginning, imagine if they were wins or overtime losses just for the individual point. Those add up and show at the end of the season that could have determined whether they fought for home ice against the Stars in Round 1 or for top spot in the division against the Jets to face a wildcard opponent instead.

When the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup with Kuemper and Francouz, as much as the team in front of them was otherworldly great, the goalies still stood tall. Kuempers' .921 SV% and 2.54 GAA in the regular season turned into a .902 SV% and a 2.57 GAA. Even when Francouz had to step in for a few games when Kuemper went down with an eye injury, he still finished with a .906 SV% and a 2.81 GAA in ten games, seven of which he started.

The Avalanche aren’t asking the two to be world beaters in cases like Andrei Vasilevskiy with the Tampa Bay Lightning or Sergei Bobrovsky with the Florida Panthers. Just a strong last line of defense, where if the offense isn’t clicking in one game, they can help keep them in it for as long as they can, so the elite talent in front of them can win them the game.

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