Avalanche, Sharks swap goalies in four-player deal

The Colorado Avalanche traded goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, forward Nikolai Kovalenko and two draft picks to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, forward Givani Smith and one draft selection on Monday.

Colorado's 2025 fifth-round draft pick and 2026 second-round pick are going to San Jose, and the Sharks will send the Avs a fifth-rounder in 2027.

It's the second goalie-for-goalie trade the Avalanche have made in a 10-day span, as they dealt Justus Annunen and a draft pick to the Nashville Predators for Scott Wedgewood.

The Avalanche made the move after Georgiev had a slow start to the season.

Georgiev, 28, lost five of his first six decisions and spent some time on injured reserve. He did win five straight starts during November, but through 18 games (17 starts) he has an 8-7-0 record with a 3.38 goals-against average and an .874 save percentage, both career worsts.

The Avalanche will replace him with Blackwood, who turned 28 on Monday and was the Sharks' primary starter to start the season. In 19 games (17 starts) he has gone 6-9-3 with a 3.00 GAA and a .909 save percentage.

Smith, 26, had only skated in six games for San Jose this season and received 10 penalty minutes without registering a point. In six NHL seasons with Detroit (2019-22), Florida (2022-23) and San Jose (2023-25), Smith has tallied 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in 161 games.

Kovalenko, 25, was off to a promising start to his rookie campaign, netting four goals and adding four assists in 28 games for the Avs.

--Field Level Media