Mackenzie Blackwood Joins Colorado Eagles On Conditioning Assignment

Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood is joining the AHL’s Colorado Eagles on a conditioning assignment, it was announced on Monday.

The Avalanche broke the news ahead of their 10:30 am MT matchup against the Buffalo Sabres.

Blackwood has been injured since the start of training camp, although he’s been on the ice often.

It’s unclear if Blackwood will actually dress for the Eagles in game action. The AHL club isn’t playing until Saturday, but having Blackwood join them now allows him an opportunity to participate in full-team practices while the Avs are on the road.

The NHL club won’t skate in Colorado until, at the earliest, Friday. Following the Buffalo game, the Avs will close out their two-game road trip on Thursday at Columbus,

Blackwood is in his first season of a five-year contract carrying a $5.25 million AAV. Without him in the lineup, his backup Scott Wedgewood started each of the four games for the Avalanche. Wedgewood entered the Sabres matchup with a 2-0-1 record and a .925 save percentage.