Scott Wedgewood’s Olympic Opportunity Could Create a Goaltending Puzzle for the Avalanche
Scott Wedgewood might be heading to the 2026 Winter Olympics-and while that’s a testament to his strong play this season, it also presents a potential headache for the Colorado Avalanche.
The veteran netminder has quietly built a solid case for himself amid a season where several of Canada’s top goaltending options have struggled. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Wedgewood is now firmly in the mix as a possible late addition to Team Canada’s Olympic roster.
He’s reportedly in the conversation alongside names like Darcy Kuemper (LA Kings) and Logan Thompson (Washington Capitals), with Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues) still in the picture as well.
For Wedgewood, it’s a well-deserved nod. He’s stepped up when called upon and shown the kind of consistency and poise that any national team would value in a backup or even platoon role. But for the Avalanche, it’s a bit more complicated.
The Avalanche already have three players-Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews-who are virtual locks for Team Canada. Add Wedgewood to that list, and suddenly Colorado’s Olympic representation starts to look like a double-edged sword.
There’s the honor and prestige, of course. But there’s also the grind: the travel, the time zone shift, the increased workload, and the ever-present risk of injury.
No one in the Avalanche front office is going to say it out loud, but the thought of losing a key player to a fluke injury on Olympic ice is enough to make any GM lose sleep. And while Wedgewood isn’t the team’s No. 1 starter, his presence has been crucial in managing the goalie workload this season. If he ends up logging minutes in Milano-Cortina, that could leave Colorado a bit thin between the pipes during one of the most demanding stretches of the NHL calendar.
December and January are already shaping up to be a gauntlet. The holiday break compresses the schedule, and with games piling up, teams will need to rotate goalies more than ever. That’s where the idea of Wedgewood and fellow netminder MacKenzie Blackwood getting some rest-not Olympic reps-starts to look pretty appealing.
From a team management perspective, rest might be more valuable than the Olympic experience, especially for a club with Stanley Cup aspirations. The Avalanche have been humming along this season, and preserving that momentum heading into the spring is crucial. Fatigue, even more than injury, can quietly derail a team’s rhythm.
Of course, there’s still time before Olympic rosters are finalized. Wedgewood has a window to further impress Team Canada’s brass, including GM Doug Armstrong. If he keeps playing the way he has, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him make the cut.
But for Avalanche fans, this situation is a bit of a tightrope walk. Everyone wants to see their guys get the recognition they deserve on the world stage.
At the same time, the bigger goal-hoisting the Stanley Cup in June-requires keeping the core healthy and fresh. That’s the balancing act Colorado will be watching closely over the next few weeks.
For now, Wedgewood’s Olympic hopes are still in play. Whether that’s good news or bad news for the Avalanche depends on how you look at it.