Blackwood’s Impact Still Echoes in San Jose
So, let me walk you through this incredible story about Mackenzie Blackwood — a player whose presence has managed to leave a mark on two different locker rooms at once. Even though he’s now stopping pucks for the Colorado Avalanche, his influence is still being felt back in San Jose, especially by the Sharks’ rising star, Yaroslav Askarov.
When Askarov first arrived in San Jose back in August 2024, he didn’t know many people, and his English was still a work in progress. It was Blackwood who stepped in right away. He offered support, patience, and a sense of comfort during those early days. Askarov has talked about how Blackwood would slow down conversations for him, wait for him to find the right words, and make sure he felt included. And honestly, that kind of kindness isn’t something every player extends. It was a genuine gesture that stuck with him.
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Even after the Sharks traded Blackwood to Colorado — a move that sent him, Givani Smith, and a future pick to the Avalanche in exchange for Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko, and a couple of draft assets — his presence didn’t fade. Askarov has essentially stepped into the role that Blackwood left behind, becoming the Sharks’ new No. 1 goalie. And you can tell that some of Blackwood’s habits rubbed off on him. The work ethic, the professionalism, the focus on taking care of his body — Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky even pointed out that Askarov learned a lot just by watching how Blackwood carried himself.
Their paths crossed again recently when the Sharks took on the league-leading Avalanche. Earlier this month, Askarov outdueled Blackwood in a 3-2 overtime win, stopping 36 shots. But in their latest meeting, the script flipped hard. Colorado rolled to a 6-0 victory, powered by yet another Blackwood shutout — part of a stretch where the Avalanche posted three straight shutouts for the first time since 2001. Blackwood stopped all 26 shots he faced, looking every bit like a goalie playing at the height of his confidence.
And while the Sharks haven’t yet seen huge returns from the trade — Georgiev and Kovalenko have both gone back to Russia, and the draft picks are still in the pipeline — they do feel secure about one thing: Askarov. His November numbers have been elite, with a .959 save percentage and a 7-1-0 run that helped push the Sharks back into the playoff conversation after a rough start.
Still, when Askarov talks about Blackwood, you can hear the respect in every word. Those early weeks in a new city, with a new team and a new language, could have been overwhelming. But Blackwood made the transition easier. He made it lighter. He made it human.
And sometimes, that’s the kind of assist that doesn’t show up on any stat sheet — but lasts the longest.
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