The Colorado Avalanche enter this season with a question that wasn’t supposed to linger this long: who owns the crease?
After a Presidents’ Trophy-winning 2025-26 run ended with a sweep at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights in the third round, the Avalanche’s goaltending setup is suddenly a real conversation. On the Sept. 2 episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk, Carter Hutton and Jesse Montano dug into where things stand with MacKenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood - and whether Colorado is satisfied with the way this duo has settled in.
Hutton pushed the issue directly, asking when the patience starts to run thin on Blackwood as the unquestioned No. 1. With Colorado’s window still framed by Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon, the goaltending picture feels especially important.
Montano said he has wondered this summer whether the Avalanche could be a dark-horse option in the Connor Hellebuyck discussion, adding that it sounds like they at least kicked tires earlier this season. He also noted that was a stretch, but the thought has been out there.
The story of last season, though, started with Blackwood missing the beginning of 2025-26 because of an injury that surfaced late in the summer. That opened the door for Wedgewood, who took over and was excellent right from the jump.
When Blackwood returned, he credited Wedgewood for making that process easier, saying: “It was really nice of Wedgewood to do that, it took the pressure off me in feeling like I had to rush to get back. I could take my time with my rehab and just get back into the rhythm that helped me feel good.”
But Wedgewood’s strong play also created a problem for Colorado: he was too good to ignore. Montano said the Avalanche were pushed into a situation they probably didn’t expect, with Wedgewood forcing his way into the conversation and effectively turning the job into a 1A and 1B arrangement.
By the time the playoffs ended, Blackwood made it clear he wanted more action. Montano said Blackwood wasn’t angry about it, but he was honest that it was difficult to step in without a rhythm, then be asked to help save the season in the postseason. He also said Bednar acknowledged the need for more consistency in net.
Even with Wedgewood’s strong work and steady approach, Montano said he believes the Avalanche need to start this season by giving Blackwood the crease and telling him it’s his job. He added that Blackwood is the kind of goalie who wants to play, wants consistency, and doesn’t like sitting for long stretches before having to find his timing again.
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Avalanche Could Face A Massive Center Debate Sooner Than Fans Think
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A bigger question could emerge if Auston Matthews ever becomes available, though even that possibility comes with plenty of moving parts. His contract demands would be a major hurdle, and any discussion about chasing him would also hinge on health, making this less a prediction than a scenario the Avalanche will have to keep in the back of their minds as the years unfold. [Read more 🡒]