Centennial, CO — Media members swarmed MacKenzie Blackwood at the start of the scrum. This time, it wasn’t because of his performance, but because he attended the Avalanche training camp.
Blackwood missed the start of last season and training camp because of offseason surgery.
MacKenzie looked in better physical shape than he did at the end of the 2025-26 campaign. His interview started tense and straightforward, with little small talk.
When asked about his plans for the season, Blackwood mentioned,
“Be the best version of myself that I can be. Come in every day, work hard, and play the best hockey I can… Give the team a chance to win.”
His aspirations might sound simple, but it’s a beaten path toward success as a netminder.
Jared Bednar has mentioned wanting Blackwood to emerge this season, telling Corey Masisak of the Denver Post (among other media members) on media day, “It’s my goal to play him as our starter. If he’s playing well and doing all the things we think he can do, then we’ll go like that.”
Next, captain Gabe Landeskog entered the room. His stall sat between Blackwood and Nathan MacKinnon; the press members were slightly in the way.
Gabe eventually made his way over, creating a little more space at Blackwood’s stall.
Gabe exchanged pleasantries with MacKinnon and the press before he abandoned his stall altogether, post-session water cup in hand, then sat in empty nearby stalls while Blackwood’s availability went on.
He got a moment before drawing some press attention himself.
As usual, Landeskog kept a professional, measured demeanor with remarks that echoed what he had said to press members (via DNVR YouTube) on media day:
“For us, no matter if you lose in the game seven of the cup finals, or you lose first, second, third round, you are gonna be motivated; you’re gonna be extra inspired going into the new season… You take some of it with you, but some of it is a fresh start.”
MacKinnon had been in the room pretty early on, but wasn’t ready for questions right away. His stall was near Blackwood’s, so it made sense to let Blackwood finish up while he took a beat.
Nate was friendly and personable with Avs media mainstays, giving candid, kind updates on his summer activities and mentioning the traveling he enjoyed. MacKinnon is jovial with his colleagues and clearly highly respected.
The group as a whole has a strong balance of focus and fun, with accountability ringing through every player who spoke.
That’s also the tone of head coach Jared Bednar’s rhetoric, along with other reflections and aspirations of fostering a youth movement.
The younger guys seem to understand the ask in Colorado, as many mentioned the expectations and standards while playing on Jared Bednar’s team.
Landeskog still has a pulse on the personnel as a whole and is fostering youth like 18-year-old Beckett Hamilton, who scored a goal with the top line in the first preseason game.
The team environment is in equilibrium, for now. Let’s see how the season’s highs and lows change that over time.
How are you feeling about last season now? Let us know in the comments!
