How Scott Wedgewood has become Colorado's early-season surprise in 2025-26

The Colorado Avalanche signed Scott Wedgewood to a two-year contract this past summer, viewed asInsurance policy behind presumed starter Alexandar Georgiev. Fast forward to late November 2025, and Wedgewood has quietly become one of the most compelling stories in the NHL’s early weeks. His performance through the first 15 games of the Avalanche season has not only stabilized Colorado’s crease but has sparked genuine conversation about a potential goaltending controversy—something virtually nobody predicted in training camp.

The veteran netminder’s journey from career backup to early-season standout reflects both his personal resilience and the Avalanche’s evolving approach to their roster construction. At 33 years old, Wedgewood arrived in Denver with a career .903 save percentage and a reputation as a reliable but unremarkable depth option. His statistics through Colorado’s opening stretch tell a dramatically different story, suggesting a player who has found another gear at a pivotal moment in his career.

Scott Wedgewood’s unexpected statistical surge for Colorado Avalanche

Through the first month of action, Wedgewood has posted numbers that rank among the league’s elite. His .925 save percentage and 2.38 goals-against average represent career highs by significant margins, particularly impressive given the Avalanche’s aggressive offensive system that sometimes leaves goaltenders vulnerable to high-danger chances. Colorado’s coaching staff has been careful to manage his workload, giving him six starts alongside Georgiev’s nine, but the quality of those appearances has been undeniable.

The underlying metrics paint an even more impressive picture. Wedgewood’s high-danger save percentage sits at .864, placing him in the top ten among goaltenders with at least five starts. His goals saved above expected (GSAx) of +4.2 suggests he has single-handedly stolen nearly a full win’s worth of points for the Avalanche in the tight Central Division race. Perhaps most tellingly, Colorado has outscored opponents 18-11 with Wedgewood between the pipes, a stark contrast to the 22-21 goal differential when Georgiev plays.

What makes these numbers particularly remarkable is the context. Wedgewood spent most of last season backing up Jake Oettinger in Dallas, appearing in just 22 games and posting a pedestrian .897 save percentage. The dramatic improvement hasn’t happened by accident. Avalanche goaltending coach Jussi Parkkila has worked extensively with Wedgewood on his positioning, particularly on plays originating from below the goal line—a known weakness in his previous stints that Colorado’s video staff identified immediately.

How Wedgewood’s preparation transformed his early-season performance

The transformation began long before the regular season opener. Teammates and coaches consistently point to Wedgewood’s meticulous preparation during training camp as the foundation for his success. Defenseman Devon Toews noted after a recent win over Nashville: “You can see the difference in his confidence. He’s tracking pucks so much better than even in September, and his communication has been huge for our D-zone coverage.”

Wedgewood’s technical adjustments have focused on three key areas. First, he has adopted a slightly deeper positioning in his crease, giving himself more time to react to lateral plays while trusting his improved mobility to handle rush chances. Second, his work on playing the puck has reduced Colorado’s defensive zone time by an estimated 12 seconds per shift, according to the team’s analytics department. Finally, his pre-game visualization routine—something he borrowed from Georgiev—has helped him maintain focus during sporadic playing time.

The mental aspect cannot be overstated. Backup goaltenders often struggle with rhythm when starting once a week, but Wedgewood has embraced the challenge. He has maintained a .935 save percentage in the second game of back-to-back situations, traditionally the most difficult spot for any goaltender. His performance in St. Louis on November 8th exemplified this, where he turned aside 34 of 35 shots after not playing for six days, securing a crucial divisional victory.

The impact on Colorado Avalanche’s goaltending strategy

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar faces an increasingly complex decision matrix in net. Georgiev, who backstopped Colorado to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2024, has shown flashes of brilliance but also enough inconsistency to keep the door ajar. His .912 save percentage through nine starts reflects a goaltender who remains capable of elite play but has yet to find the sustained rhythm that defined his best stretches in previous seasons.

The team’s management of this dynamic has been deliberate. Bednar has avoided publicly naming a definitive starter, instead emphasizing that both goaltenders will see consistent work. This approach serves multiple purposes: it keeps both players sharp, creates internal competition, and prevents opponents from developing specific game plans based on which goaltender they face. The coach’s philosophy becomes clear when examining the schedule—Wedgewood has drawn starts against top-tier offensive teams like Toronto and Carolina, suggesting Bednar trusts him in high-pressure situations.

From a salary cap perspective, the situation becomes even more interesting. Wedgewood carries a modest $1 million cap hit compared to Georgiev’s $3.5 million, making the former an incredible value proposition if his performance sustains. Colorado’s front office, always mindful of long-term flexibility, must weigh the benefit of riding a hot hand against the risk of diminishing an asset’s trade value. The Avalanche have championship aspirations this season, and goaltending consistency has been their primary question mark since Philipp Grubauer’s departure.

What Scott Wedgewood’s emergence means for Colorado’s championship hopes

The early-season goaltending performance has ripple effects throughout the roster. Knowing they have reliable depth in net, Colorado’s defensemen can play more aggressively in the offensive zone. This confidence manifests in players like Cale Makar jumping into plays with greater freedom, contributing to the Avalanche’s 3.8 goals-per-game average that leads the Western Conference. The security blankets provided by strong goaltending allow the team to implement Bednar’s system more authentically.

The psychological impact extends to the locker room. Veteran forward Nathan MacKinnon, never one to mince words, addressed the situation directly: “Wedge has been unbelievable. We don’t care who starts, honestly. When you have two guys playing at that level, it’s a great problem to have. We’re confident with either one back there.” This sentiment reflects a mature team that understands championship runs require contributions from unexpected sources.

Looking ahead, the Avalanche schedule intensifies in December with a brutal stretch featuring eight games against playoff teams from last season. How Bednar deploys his goaltenders during this period will reveal much about his long-term thinking. If Wedgewood continues his strong play, he could easily earn a 50-50 split in starts, an unheard-of scenario for a backup goaltender on a Cup contender. The organization’s patience with Georgiev’s adjustment period shows their belief in his talent, but hockey is a results-driven business, and Wedgewood is producing results at an elite clip.

Colorado’s ability to develop goaltending talent has been a hallmark of their success. From Grubauer to Darcy Kuemper to Georgiev, the Avalanche have consistently identified and elevated goaltenders to career-best performances. Wedgewood’s emergence follows this pattern, suggesting the organization’s scouting and development pipeline remains robust. For a team positioned to contend for years, discovering unexpected value in a veteran backup could provide the marginal gains that separate champions from contenders in today’s parity-driven NHL.

Scott Wedgewood’s early-season performance has transformed from a feel-good story into a legitimate strategic advantage for the Colorado Avalanche. His statistical dominance, technical improvements, and mental fortitude have given Colorado something they haven’t truly enjoyed since their Cup run: genuine depth in net. As the season progresses and sample sizes grow, regression to the mean remains possible, but the eye test suggests a goaltender who has genuinely evolved his game at 33 years old. For now, Avalanche fans should appreciate this unexpected gift—a veteran playing the best hockey of his life at exactly the right moment. Whether this becomes a full-blown goaltending controversy or simply a season of remarkable tandem play, one thing is certain: Scott Wedgewood has earned every minute of his ice time and proven that in the NHL, timing and opportunity can create magic at any age.