New Jersey Devils Goalie Situation Finds Ways To Get Worse

The New Jersey Devils have had a lot of trouble with goalies this season. They’ve been forced to start six different goalies this season. Mackenzie Blackwood, Jonathan Bernier, Nico Daws, Scott Wedgewood, Akira Schmid, and John Gillies all got a chance to play this year. Blackwood has had to hold the fort together after Bernier was knocked out for the entire year after getting hip surgery. The Devils traded for Jon Gillies to tide them over since they lost Scott Wedgewood to the Arizona Coyotes.

Well, on Tuesday, the only goalie that could practice as the Devils returned from another outbreak of COVID cases was Gillies. Daws joins Bernier on the injured list, and Schmid was placed under COVID protocols. Blackwood had an inconclusive test, and he was forced to wait until they got more finite results.

If Blackwood is out, it’s very unlikely the Devils will be able to play against the New York Islanders on Thursday. Still, losing Schmid just puts the Devils in another tough spot across the organization. Daws and Schmid haven’t been able to play for the Utica Comets in a month, and it’s clearly impacting that part of the organization. After starting the season as the best team in minor league hockey, they are now playing at around .500 hockey for the last month. Mareks Mitens is holding down the fort, but his .877 save percentage is not doing the team any favors.

New Jersey Devils are stuck with just one goalie due to COVID protocols and injury issues.

The Devils have had issues with goalies all season. We talked about the injury to Bernier that will have him out for the season. They also lost Wedgewood for free to the Coyotes when they claimed him on waivers. Blackwood has been dealing with a heel issue that clearly has him playing below 100%. On top of all that, they are losing more backups to COVID protocols and other injuries. We still have no idea when Nico Daws is expected back.

The Devils have just had terrible luck at the position for years. Cory Schneider had a hip issue that basically derailed his career. Keith Kinkaid helped drive the Devils to the playoffs, then he fell off a cliff. Even the end of the Brodeur era was marred by his inconsistencies. It’s been a long time since Devils fans could be supremely confident with what they were getting from the position. Maybe this is what happens when you have a rock-solid goalie for 20 years. Karma considers that too much and makes the position cursed from then on.

The Devils have to figure out what to do in the short term and the long term when it comes to the goalie position. For now, if they don’t get another goalie for practice this week, then they are about to have another two-week vacation.