MacKenzie Blackwood Traded to the Colorado Avalanche, per Elliotte Friedman

The San Jose Sharks made the interesting move this summer to trade for talented young goaltender Yaroslav Askarov, and now it appears they've found a way to make him the No. 1 moving forward.

After struggles early in the year in net, the Colorado Avalanche have now reportedly acquired Mackenzie Blackwood, who took the majority of starts early in the year for the Sharks, with Elliotte Friedman first to report the deal.

The 28-year old Blackwood was having a fantastic start to the year in San Jose, posting a .910 save percentage and a 2.65 GAA in 19 games played for the team, despite playing in front of one of the worst defensive units in the entire league.

According to reporter Sheng Peng, the Sharks are also sending 26-year old winger Givani Smith and a fifth-round pick to Colorado in the deal, with the Avalanche potentially landing the No. 1 starter that could make them genuine Stanley Cup threats this season.

In return for Blackwood, the Sharks are reportedly landing Alexandar Georgiev and Nikolai Kovalenko along with draft picks, as Colorado are seemingly banking on Blackwood to be the answer for them.

With a $2.35 million salary this season, Blackwood is a fairly cheap option for the Avalanche, and despite their struggles in net, they are going all in for another Cup run with the team hoping that the career best start to the year from Blackwood will continue in front of a much better defensive unit.

For the Sharks, this move makes sense as well, as they get a talented young winger and a second-round draft pick in return for moving out Blackwood to make Askarov their No. 1, so all in all, it appears that both teams come out on top in this trade.