Colorado Avalanche Bolster Goaltending Depth with Ilya Nabokov Signing

The Colorado Avalanche's goaltending situation has been a topic of discussion following their Western Conference Final struggles against the Vegas Golden Knights. Despite the team's use of three goalies in 95 games, President of Hockey Operations and general manager Joe Sakic views the position as a strength. Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood split the crease, with Blackwood missing significant time due to a preseason injury. Wedgewood took over as the starter in October and performed well, allowing Blackwood to gradually find his rhythm. The duo's consistency was a key factor in the team's early-season success, with Wedgewood earning the starting job entering the playoffs. However, he struggled in the Western Conference Final, leading to questions about the team's goaltending mix. Sakic believes the addition of prospect Ilya Nabokov from Russia has improved the team's depth, and both Blackwood and Wedgewood played well throughout the season. Nabokov, a second-round pick in 2024, joined the team for practices but did not appear in any games, serving as a backup to AHL goalie Trent Miner. With Nabokov expected to share AHL duties with Miner, the Avalanche are likely to enter the 2026-27 season with a strong goaltending group, featuring a trusted starter in Blackwood, a reliable tandem partner in Wedgewood, and a steady AHL starter in Miner. Nabokov's development could lead to an NHL debut at some point during the season.