The New Jersey Devils entered this season with an expectation to contend for a Stanley Cup. Last year, they were eliminated in the first round, due in part to missing Jack Hughes after he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. After a strong start, the Devils once again have to play without Hughes, who suffered a freak accident, leading to finger surgery, and he's out for about two months. Yet, they are still in a playoff position.
The Devils have had their struggles with replacing Martin Brodeur after his retirement. The team did make a big trade for Jacob Markstrom, but the results have been mixed, especially this season. Backup Jake Allen has been much better.
The Devils are in good shape, but it certainly won't make fans feel any better seeing former Devils goalies Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood thrive on a contending roster.
1 year ago today, Colorado had the WORST team save-percentage in the NHL. But aggressive GM work by Chris MacFarland totally overhauled their crease, and the Avs now have the BEST save-percentage in the league 🔄
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 24, 2025
(h/t @jessemontano_) pic.twitter.com/1jjIIgHxm3
Former Devils goalies Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood are thriving with Avalanche
Wedgewood and Blackwood were both at one point starting goaltenders for the Devils in the post-Brodeur era of the franchise. Wedgewood didn't pan out as a starting goaltender, owning a 21-5-11 record, .908 save percentage, and a 2.77 goals allowed average across 23 games (21 starts) in two tenures. As for Blackwood, he was their starter from 2018 until 2023. Across five seasons, Blackwood posted a 65-57-18 record, .906 save percentage, and a 2.97 goals allowed average.
Now, both are thriving in Colorado.
The Avalanche are expected to contend for a Stanley Cup on a yearly basis. That is the norm, especially when they have a superstar like Nathan MacKinnon on the roster. They look like legitimate favorites to win the Stanley Cup this season, as they are 16-1-5 with 37 points through 22 games.
What sunk the Avalanche last year was their goaltending, which was one of the worst situations in the entire league. The team tried their best to salvage it, but had a cumulative .900 save percentage, the worst in the NHL, and that's with six different goaltenders used.
Last year, the Avalanche made midseason trades for the two former Devils goaltenders. Blackwood was brought over from the San Jose Sharks, while Wedgewood was acquired from the Nashville Predators. In 37 games last season, Blackwood recorded a 22-12-3 record, a 2.33 goals against average, and a .913 save percentage. Meanwhile, Wedgewood recorded a 1.99 goals against average, a .917 save percentage, and a 13-4-1 record in 19 games.
This season, both continued their strong play from the year prior. Wedgewood has been the starting goaltender this time around. In 17 games, Wedgewood has a 2.09 goals against average, a .918 save percentage, and a 13-1-2 record. In fact, Wedgewood has played well enough that he earned a one-year, $2.5 million contract extension early on in the season.
Meanwhile, Blackwood played in four games, earning a 3-0-1 record while posting a 2.47 goals allowed average and a .911 save percentage.
This is great work from the former Devils goaltenders. Devils fans can at least take solace in the fact that for the Avalanche to finally solve their goalie issues, they had to turn to two former Devils draft picks.