Avalanche make a move that shows goalie room is feeling healthy

The Colorado Avalanche are getting healthier at the goalie position.

On Wednesday, the team activated Mackenzie Blackwood from injured reserve and sent Trent Miner back to the Colorado Eagles.

This means Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood should be good to go moving forward, as the best goaltending duo in the NHL have both battled recent injuries.

Mackenzie Blackwood has been activated off Injured Reserve.

Trent Miner has been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles. pic.twitter.com/RkBFBvC6as

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 14, 2026

The Avalanche initially put Blackwood on IR back on Jan. 2. Hockey is notoriously secret about injuries, but Colorado called it a “lower-body” ailment for Blackwood.

Miner earned a shutout win for the Avs over the weekend, helping them take down Columbus 4-0. He was also in goal on Monday night, falling to the Maple Leafs 4-3 in OT. That ended a 17-game home winning streak for the Avalanche.

And meanwhile, Wedgewood played four straight games after Blackwood went on injured reserve. He was available to back up Miner against Toronto as he deals with a little something. Wedgewood said he wouldn’t even describe it as an injury.

Regardless, it’s good to have Blackwood and Wedgewood both available for Friday night against Nashville. They’ve won a combined 32 games while suffering only four regulation losses and five in overtime or a shootout.

As a Stanley Cup chase will heat up after the Olympic break in February, the Avalanche getting to full health will be critical. This is a nice first step.

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