Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils Midseason Defense And Goalie Grades

By David Holliday

NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 23: Jon Gillies #32 of the New Jersey Devils at the bench during the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Los Angeles Kings on January 23, 2022 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 23: Jon Gillies #32 of the New Jersey Devils at the bench during the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Los Angeles Kings on January 23, 2022 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images) /
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New Jersey Devils
Mackenzie Blackwood #29 of the New Jersey Devils. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Mackenzie Blackwood

GP:23 GAA:3.29 Save Percentage:.894

To put it bluntly, Mackenzie Blackwood has been bad for too long. He needs to take some time off if his heel is bothering him in any way and shouldn’t be seeing the ice till he says he is 100% regardless of whether it is April or November. He was once regarded as a sure thing to be the goaltender of the future but with the sample size growing larger and bleaker every game he plays Blackwood is starting to legitimately look like a backup.

Rating: F

Jonathan Bernier

GP:10 GAA:3.06 Save Percentage: .902

Jonathan Bernier was brought in to split time with Blackwood and early on he was mediocre but somehow still has been the Devils’ best goalie this season. With the nature of his injury and his age Devils, fans have good reason to be worried because we all saw what happened to Schneider when his hips went out. Before coming to Jersey he was quietly solid and he was a fantastic bet by the team but despite that this team needs to look for a replacement just in case. As for his performance, it wasn’t quite what was expected but could have been a lot worse like the rest of the team’s goalies.

Rating: C-

Jon Gillies

GP:6 GAA:3.08 Save Percentage: .900

Jon Gillies is a new pickup and was acquired for future considerations aka nothing. Expectations should have been low and at 28 years old with 18 games played it is clear he is just a guy here for the year and right now the Devils fans should probably expect to see him for 20 games. The Devils probably won’t be winning a lot of games but at least he has been better than Blackwood.

Rating: C-

Next. Midseason Forward Grades. dark

Akira Schmidt

GP:4 GAA:4.99 Save Percentage: .824

Akira Schmid has a good future at only 21 years of age and while the Devils have few options he needs to get back down to Utica as soon as possible. He is not remotely NHL ready as the numbers say but in the AHL he is incredible. With the Comets he has a 1.55GAA and a.948 save percentage and this is how a guy builds confidence and becomes the goaltender they have the potential to be. The Devils need to not ruin his confidence and hurt a successful AHL team so send him down now.

Rating: D

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