Avalanche Extend Goaltender Scott Wedgewood’s Contract to 2027

The Colorado Avalanche have secured goaltender Scott Wedgewood with a one-year contract extension valued at $2.5 million, confirming his place with the team through the 2026-27 season. The deal, finalized on Thursday morning, comes as Wedgewood demonstrates his value midway through the final season of a two-year contract originally signed with the Nashville Predators.

Wedgewood, 33, expressed his gratitude towards the Avalanche organization, emphasizing his sense of belonging. “It’s just a place that my wife and I have felt at home with,” he stated. “A great hockey team. All those guys in the room, I owe them a lot of beers for putting me in this situation. It’s just been a good fit since I got here.”

The Avalanche acquired Wedgewood on December 1, 2024, trading goalie Justus Annunen and a sixth-round draft pick to Nashville. His addition played a crucial role in stabilizing a goaltending situation that had been underperforming; the team ranked last in the NHL for save percentage prior to his arrival. Following Wedgewood’s trade, the Avalanche also signed Mackenzie Blackwood, leading to a significant improvement in their goaltending statistics, as they achieved the sixth-best save percentage during the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

This season, Wedgewood has stepped up as a starter in the absence of Blackwood, who is recovering from an offseason procedure. With a record of 10-1-2, Wedgewood leads the NHL in wins, boasting a save percentage of .913 and a goals against average of 2.26, ranking third among goalies with a minimum of ten games played.

The contract extension nearly concluded the night before, but Wedgewood’s wife learned of the agreement through social media just before the morning skate at Ball Arena. His parents are also in town to celebrate this milestone. Wedgewood noted, “It’s a chance to play 30-plus games, a chance to be on a really good team, a chance of winning (the Stanley Cup). When you put it in that perspective, it’s probably the best spot in the league to be a 1A and 1B with Blackwood.”

The Avalanche also have young prospect Ilya Nabokov under contract for next season. The second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft was named the KHL playoff MVP in 2024 and is expected to join the Avalanche in the spring after completing his season with Magnitogorsk. Head coach Jared Bednar highlighted Nabokov’s potential but noted that he still needs to adapt to North American hockey.

Bednar remarked, “When you get a guy (like Wedgewood) who wants to be here and fits in your culture and then performs like this on the ice, I think the natural progression is trying to get him locked up.”

In other news, Valeri Nichushkin will be sidelined for at least several games due to an injury, as confirmed by Bednar on Thursday morning. While the injury is not serious, it is significant enough to keep Nichushkin off the ice for an undetermined period. The coach is hopeful to have more clarity on his timeline by early next week.

As the Avalanche navigate these challenges, rookie Gavin Brindley is set to step up into a more prominent role on the second line, playing alongside Brock Nelson and Ross Colton against the Buffalo Sabres. Brindley’s performance has earned him increased trust from the coaching staff, following his recent contract extension.

While the forward group experiences adjustments, the Avalanche welcome back defender Samuel Girard, who has recovered from an upper-body injury. Girard, who missed training camp and faced a lengthy absence, expressed his excitement to return to the ice, stating, “It’s been a long five weeks, but I’m excited to be back.”

As the Avalanche continue their season, the recent developments both on and off the ice are crucial for maintaining their competitive edge in the league. Fans will be keenly watching how these changes impact the team’s performance as they pursue their championship ambitions.