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Colorado Avalanche News

Blackwood is in the starter's crease at the Devils' morning skate.

Blackwood draws the home Start Tuesday as New Jersey takes on Anaheim in an attempt to get their first win of the young season. The 25-year-old struggled in his only start of the season against the Philadelphia Flyers, allowing four goals on 20 shots in a 5-2 opening night loss. He will look to correct the ship after a .892. SV% in 2021-22.

Mackenzie Blackwood
Blackwood led the Devils onto the ice for warmups.

Blackwood will get the first start of the season as they take on the Flyers in Philadelphia. The 25-year-old is entering his fifth season as a member of the Devils, posting a career SV% of .907 while winning 55 games in 123 starts. He will be looking to bounce back this season with an exciting Devils' roster after posting an SV% below .900 for the first time in his career in 2021-22 (.892).

Mackenzie Blackwood
Blackwood was in the starter's crease at the Devils morning skate.

Blackwood is expected to get the first Devil's start of the season as they take on the Flyers in Philadelphia. The 25-year-old is entering his fifth season as a member of the Devils, posting a career SV% of .907 while winning 55 games in 123 starts. He will be looking to bounce back this season with an exciting Devils' roster after posting an SV% below .900 for the first time in his career in 2021-22 (.892).

Mackenzie Blackwood
Schwartz (lower-body) returned to practice on Tuesday.

Jaden Schwartz returned to practice with Seattle's main group Tuesday after leaving the team's previous pre-season game against Edmonton due to a lower-body injury. The winger is projected to line up on both the Kraken's top line and powerplay to start the season. The 30-year-old put up 23 points (8G/15A) in an injury-filled 37 games in his first season with Seattle in 2021-22.

Jaden Schwartz
Nathan MacKinnon is day-to-day after tweaking something Saturday in practice

Colorado coach Jared Bednar has confirmed star centre Nathan MacKinnon is day-to-day after leaving practice early Saturday. MacKinnon hopes to be ready and healthy for the Avalanche's opening game Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 27-year-old signed an eight-year, $100,800,000 contract extension this past September after finishing 2021-22 with 32 goals and 88 points in 65 games. It was his fifth straight season finishing above a point-per-game and his seventh straight with 200 or more shots on goal.

Nathan MacKinnon
The Avalanche signed Nathan MacKinnon to an eight-year extension worth $100.8 million ($12.6M AAV).

McKinnon had been one of the most underpaid players in the NHL for years but will have the highest AAV when the 2024 season starts at $12.6. McKinnon missed 17 games last season but was on pace for 111 points (40G / 71A) over 82 games. He also led the playoffs in goals (13) and won his first Stanley Cup. Overall, 2022 was a great year for Nathan MacKinnon.

Nathan MacKinnon
The Flames have signed Nazem Kadri to a seven-year contract worth $49.0 million ($7.0M AAV).

In order to make room for Kadri, the Flames are reportedly trading Sean Monahan to the Montreal Canadiens. Kadri is coming off of a career-best 87 points (28G / 59A) in 71 games with the Avalanche. He added 15 points (7G / 8A) in 16 playoff games, winning the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche.

Nazem Kadri
The Canucks signed Christian Wolanin to a one-year, two-way contract.

Wolanin appeared in 30 NHL games with the Senators back in 2019 but has only played in a combined 30 games in the three years since, posting one goal and four assists with the Senators, Kings and Sabres. He spent most of last season in the AHL, where he had 18 points (1G / 17A) in 37 games with Ontario.

Christian Wolanin