New Jersey Devils: MacKenzie Blackwood Is In A Good Spot
The New Jersey Devils are headed into this season with two goalies that are capable of playing at a high level. So, which one will prevail?
The New Jersey Devils in all likelihood are going to use the services of both Cory Schneider and MacKenzie Blackwood in net this season. Schneider will likely be given the first chance as he is the veteran and at one point in his career was one of the best goalies in the world. There is hope that he can get back to that level now that he has returned to a full bill of health for the first time in a long time.
With that said, they have a nice backup plan in Blackwood. He came in last season and partnered with Schneider to have decent goaltending down the stretch. Before that, there were times where he edged out Keith Kinkaid as well when things were not going well for the team at all. He is a young goalie who had a nice rookie year and could take over as the starter if things don’t go well for Schneider. There is also a chance where they split starts at first or even all year long. The bottom line is that he needs to play well when called on in order for the Devils to have a nice year.
He had 23 total games played in 2018-19 and had a record of 10-10-0. Not a terrible record for a rookie goalie on a bad team that had so many injuries to so many important players. He had a goals-against-average of 2.61 and a .918 save percentage which are very good numbers for a 22-year-old goalie. He has the potential to be really good for the Devils and they are hoping to see some more development from him this year.
Blackwood was a second-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft. He played his junior hockey for the Barrie Colts of the OHL and earned himself high enough stock to be the 42nd overall pick. The Thunder Bay, Ontario native was a high draft pick for a goalie so he definitely has the potential to bud into an everyday starter.
Cory Schneider probably deserves the first crack at the starting job just because of his recent past. He was an elite goalie not too long ago and injuries have caused him to fall off the grid but he deserves a chance at full strength. If he falters, Blackwood will be right there to get in the net. It isn’t a terrible duo to have to go into a season that they expect to win.
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The Devils will give him the opportunity to run with the starting job someday and it is up to him to grab it. He is still so young and could develop into the guy that the Devils use in the net when they are ready to be real contenders. They are going to need both Schneider and Blackwood to be great in 2019-20 and if they are we should see this team back in the playoffs.