It’s Time For The Devils To Give Up On MacKenzie Blackwood
The New Jersey Devils found their goalie. It’s just not MacKenzie Blackwood. The Devils were always a goalie away from being back in the mix and that’s exactly what has happened. As we stand right now, New Jersey is 26-12-3 and second in the Metro behind red hot Carolina. The Devils are good. MacKenzie Blackwood just isn’t and it’s time to acknowledge it.
I know it may not seem like it because the guy never plays but Blackwood isn’t a young pup anymore. What we’re seeing is what he is. Blackwood, 26, while carrying a $2.8 million cap hit prior to being a restricted free agent this offseason. The more he plays the worse he looks. Blackwood’s SV% has dipped in five consecutive years with the Devils. For the 2022-23 season, it’s down to .888 in 11 games played.
I don’t want to hear how it’s the team defense. I just don’t. Vitek Vanecek is rocking a .913 SV% and has never looked better after leaving Washington. The defense core is all there. Dougie Hamilton, Jonas Siegenthaler, John Marino, etc. The offense is prolific too. New Jersey was 13th in shots allowed per game last year and rank second this year.
It’s nobody else’s fault. Blackwood is just bad. Blackwood carries a -4.2 GSAA and the only reason why it’s not worse is because the sample size isn’t large enough. A year ago it was -11 in 25 games. What more proof do you need?
I don’t know if Blackwood has any value but it’s time to find out. Vanecek has proven he’s your number one netminder moving forward. After that, you either find a veteran backup or roll with Akira Schmid, the former 5th round pick in 2018. Either way, there is no room on this roster for Blackwood. The Devils have turned the corner and he’s not part of it.
