Blackwood/Vanecek/We Really Need to Move On/Goalie Thread

[My3Sons]

Reimer returns a 2nd just like all the insiders say. Blackwood has no value. It would be obvious if you watched a Sharks game.

The second round is a big swing. Pick 33 is seemingly much better than pick 64. Let's see if NJ can right the ship with Vanacek leading the way. If not, then I doubt they are buyers at the deadline. As an aside, if Reimer would return a decent second round pick my guess is that would have happened already.

 

[Gecklund]

The second round is a big swing. Pick 33 is seemingly much better than pick 64. Let's see if NJ can right the ship with Vanacek leading the way. If not, then I doubt they are buyers at the deadline. As an aside, if Reimer would return a decent second round pick my guess is that would have happened already.

Why would it have happened already?

This is why I said Vilen and not the 2nd.

 

[My3Sons]

Why would it have happened already?

This is why I said Vilen and not the 2nd.

SJ is losing and can get a goalie to sit in the crease if as you say Blackwood has no value. Trade Reimer for the second and just get Blackwood for future considerations. That said, I think Vilen is worth at least a second plus at this point. He's grown and leads the Finns in ice time a the WJC. NJ liked him enough to give him an ELC before his seeming breakout this season. I think a prospect like Vukojevic or even Foote would be more palatable. At the end of this, I'd defer to @Bleedred. He watches NJ and SJ both. If he'd move a second or Vilen for Reimer in the abstract that's good enough for me.

 

[billingtons ghost]

Switch Bernier for Blackwood then.

That is definitely correct. This team is god awful and only held up by Reimer keeping them in games and Karlsson, Hertl, Couture, and Timo being really good.

@Bleedred is the resident super-Blackwood hater, but there are plenty others.

I think it's fairly even in belief that he could regain form somewhere with a change of scenery, and his ceiling is still really high so I hope he brings back something good.

I personally believe he was just shellshocked into a confidence spiral and he was injured with a heel that affected his movement, a bad bout of COVID and three concussions from being run.

If I was a GM, I think he's a beaut of a buy low candidate, but I'm a goalie apologist and doubt many others share my view.

Ps. I'm sure the sharks are awful but you haven't lived until you've seen pk Subban/ty Smith as a pairing, plus nothing but chaos drivers up front.

 

[Bleedred]

@Bleedred is the resident super-Blackwood hater, but there are plenty others.

I think it's fairly even in belief that he could regain form somewhere with a change of scenery, and his ceiling is still really high so I hope he brings back something good.

I personally believe he was just shellshocked into a confidence spiral and he was injured with a heel that affected his movement, a bad bout of COVID and three concussions from being run.

If I was a GM, I think he's a beaut of a buy low candidate, but I'm a goalie apologist and doubt many others share my view.

I do think there's somewhat of a chance he can resurrect his career somewhere else, but it ain't happening here.

No matter how much the organization hopes and prays.

Any chance of him resurrecting his career is dependent on a divorce from our team.

Sometimes that can happen, as it did for Steve Mason for a little bit going from Columbus to Philadelphia.

I don't think he has elite upside, but I think he can have another good season in the NHL, but it ain't happening here.

And management really needs to see that.

And unfortunately for him, it won't be happening on this year's Sharks either.

He'll generate interest on the UFA market this offseason, as long as we don't make the mortal mistake of re-upping him (I really don't think we will at this point, as he'll be too expensive), I think teams will be interested. I don't see him getting a multi-year deal (unless he takes fewer dollars per year) or a big money deal, but 1 year for $1.2-$1.5 million is realistic.

But if he keeps playing this year and keeps getting blown up, whether it's for the NHL Devils, the AHL Devils, the Coyotes or the Sharks, it may cut the number of potential suitors down come July.

I don't keep track of prospects much anymore, but I have seen Vilen being talked about as a potential late draft steal.

I also have a slight paranoia that Reimer is nearing the end of his shelf life, which he probably is, but that doesn't mean that it's already here.

 

[Gecklund]

@Bleedred is the resident super-Blackwood hater, but there are plenty others.

I think it's fairly even in belief that he could regain form somewhere with a change of scenery, and his ceiling is still really high so I hope he brings back something good.

I personally believe he was just shellshocked into a confidence spiral and he was injured with a heel that affected his movement, a bad bout of COVID and three concussions from being run.

If I was a GM, I think he's a beaut of a buy low candidate, but I'm a goalie apologist and doubt many others share my view.

Ps. I'm sure the sharks are awful but you haven't lived until you've seen pk Subban/ty Smith as a pairing, plus nothing but chaos drivers up front.

I kind of saw Blackwood as a bit of a buy low candidate in hopes that regains a little bit of form. Basically it was either continue as himself and increase our odds at the top pick or he turns it around and he can help in the future.

Also just wait until you see Ferraro playing behind guys like Lindblom, Gadjovich, Labanc, etc. it’s definitely real bad.

 

[nugg]

Surprised none of our fans have mentioned it yet, but Schmid was blown to smithereens last night in the AHL in a way that we haven't seen up here in a while, though Blackwood was just about there on Friday night. But Blackwood also struggled in the AHL one of the years in which he played in the NHL the very same year and it didn't seem to have any bearing on his NHL play.

Blackwood would be superb for the Sharks tank. And while I really have no interest in seeing this piece of shit player monkey branch to my second favorite team, I will get some sick sadistic pleasure in watching him play behind a REALLY BAD DEFENSE/TEAM. Something like he's never played behind before.

Reimer has looked pretty bad since coming back from his injury. I'd like to see if he can get it back a bit before acquiring him. But here, Reimer wouldn't have to be THE guy and I think he can help us in the way he helped the Sharks in 2016 when he was acquired at the deadline and Stalock (who was every bit as bad as Blackwood) was sent out because he was too much of a liability.

I would give Blackwood away for free at this point, just to remove the temptation of ever giving him a run of games again.

Don't forget though, that even greats like Roy and Marty had shaky games on occasion, and got the hook a few times per season.

 

[Maine Fan]

For the record, I am a Blackwood hater because he is a bad goalie. Also, I wouldn't say I liked the fact that he refused to get COVID protection, one of only two NHL players to refuse. Not much of a team player, IMO. He would consider it if he could have been a goalie on the Canadian team. Well what about the Devils? Did he write them off? Don't forget he plays for the Devils. He gets paid by the Devils. His paychecks come from the Devils. Enough.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Why would it have happened already?

This is why I said Vilen and not the 2nd.

If NJ is dealing with SJ it makes sense to expand the deal to get Timo Meier.

Meier (50%) + Reimer + Bonino for 1st Round Pick, Holtz, Blackwood, Johnsson, Vilen

 

[guitarguyvic]

If NJ is dealing with SJ it makes sense to expand the deal to get Timo Meier.

Meier (50%) + Reimer + Bonino for 1st Round Pick, Holtz, Blackwood, Johnsson, Vilen

I don’t think that’s enough to get Meier…?

 

[glenwo2]

@Bleedred is the resident super-Blackwood hater, but there are plenty others.

Yep.

I'm the "plenty of others" guy.

 

[glenwo2]

I don’t think that’s enough to get Meier…?

If not, then no deal.

 

[Triumph]

I don’t think that’s enough to get Meier…?

I think it is, but not enough to get Reimer and Bonino. Meier has a lot of leverage over SJ and any team that would want him - a first round pick and Holtz is a huge haul.

 

[guitarguyvic]

I feel like trading for Meier gets talked about so much and seems like such an obvious fit that it’s almost like it has to happen. The same thing happened with us signing Dougie, which I was highly skeptical it would but Devils HFboards basically willed it into existence lol.

 

[My3Sons]

I feel like trading for Meier gets talked about so much and seems like such an obvious fit that it’s almost like it has to happen. The same thing happened with us signing Dougie, which I was highly skeptical it would but Devils HFboards basically willed it into existence lol.

My guess is it boils down to whether Meier is interested in an extension. Talks for Tkachuck fizzled when he said no to NJ and it sounds like that also happened indirectly with Fiala.

 

[NJDevs26]

I feel like trading for Meier gets talked about so much and seems like such an obvious fit that it’s almost like it has to happen. The same thing happened with us signing Dougie, which I was highly skeptical it would but Devils HFboards basically willed it into existence lol.

We learned from Miro Satan, we couldn't will that into existence lol

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

We learned from Miro Satan, we couldn't will that into existence lol

Difference is Lou was in charge back then. The man is stubborn as a mule.

 

[guitarguyvic]

I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that the biggest threat to this team’s playoff aspirations this year is Mackenzie Blackwood.

 

[Bleedred]

I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that the biggest threat to this team’s playoff aspirations this year is Mackenzie Blackwood.

I've been saying this since last offseason. Even before Vanecek was acquired. And somehow I promoted my paranoia everywhere that Blackwood would start more games than he should get.

Which he kind of hasn't yet, because he hasn't been available, but he certainly has when counting the games that he's actually been dressed for, where he has started 55% of them so far.

I'm surprised the staff doesn't see it, as they couldn't wait to poke the bear and throw him in there on Sunday.

This shouldn't even be a controversy and we shouldn't even have to talk about it, but we do because they insist on throwing him out there for random games. Even when Ruff gave what seemed like a possible teaser that he had enough after the Boston game. And that's all it was, a teaser.

I do think he will be GONE this offseason. I don't think we're re-signing him, unless he's willing to take way less than his qualifying offer to stay, but I imagine he'd rather go somewhere and have his pick for the same amount of money.

But I give up on trying to predict when his time here will expire, just like Ruff. It's like all bets are off with this guy. I thought Vitek would start the first game of the season, he did not. I thought for sure Blackwood not play until one of these back to backs after that Boston massacre and ensuing post game presser from Ruff, he played one game sooner.

The one thing I have been hitting and have gotten right so far is that he wouldn't be good this year and he's not bouncing back, but that's much easier to predict than anything else. You don't have to be a nostradamus to figure that out.

 

[Guttersniped]

I've been saying this since last offseason. Even before Vanecek was acquired. And somehow I promoted my paranoia everywhere that Blackwood would start more games than he should get.

Which he kind of hasn't yet, because he hasn't been available, but he certainly has when counting the games that he's actually been dressed for, where he has started 55% of them so far.

I'm surprised the staff doesn't see it, as they couldn't wait to poke the bear and throw him in there on Sunday.

This shouldn't even be a controversy and we shouldn't even have to talk about it, but we do because they insist on throwing him out there for random games. Even when Ruff gave what seemed like a possible teaser that he had enough after the Boston game. And that's all it was, a teaser.

I do think he will be GONE this offseason. I don't think we're re-signing him, unless he's willing to take way less than his qualifying offer to stay, but I imagine he'd rather go somewhere and have his pick for the same amount of money.

But I give up on trying to predict when his time here will expire, just like Ruff. It's like all bets are off with this guy. I thought Vitek would start the first game of the season, he did not. I thought for sure Blackwood not play until one of these back to backs after that Boston massacre and ensuing post game presser from Ruff, he played one game sooner.

The one thing I have been hitting and have gotten right so far is that he wouldn't be good this year and he's not bouncing back, but that's much easier to predict than anything else. You don't have to be a nostradamus to figure that out.

We’ve played 38 games and Vanacek has started 21 of them and played in 26.

The % Blackwood started “in the ones he dressed” is not a statistic that matters unless you’re fueled by a ton of paranoia and hatred for him.

Again, I don’t have much faith in the guy either but I see the logic in the starts he got and that’s something you repeatedly refuse to do at any point.

For instance, Blackwood got the less significant first game in Philly while Vanacek got the much more important Home Opener. Sorry, maybe it’s because you don’t go to games but the sold out first home game is always a very big deal. Any away games before it aren’t the season opener, the 1st home game is.

You can keep freaking out over that but neither goalie won the job in pre-season and neither guy won their first regular season game.

We get it, Blackwood is basically never supposed to play in your view but, sorry, he’s going to get games as this continues to be run as a tandem.

 

[Bleedred]

We’ve played 38 games and Vanacek has started 21 of them and played in 26.

The % Blackwood started “in the ones he dressed” is not a statistic that matters unless you’re fueled by a ton of paranoia and hatred for him.

Again, I don’t have much faith in the guy either but I see the logic in the starts he got and that’s something you repeatedly refuse to do at any point.

For instance, Blackwood got the less significant first game in Philly while Vanacek got the much more important Home Opener. Sorry, maybe it’s because you don’t go to games but the sold out first home game is always a very big deal. Any away games before it aren’t the season opener, the 1st home game is.

You can keep freaking out over that but neither goalie won the job in pre-season and neither guy won their first regular season game.

We get it, Blackwood is basically never supposed to play in your view but, sorry, he’s going to get games as this continues to be run as a tandem.

Tandem? Here lies my issue.

This shouldn’t be run a tandem.

Vanecek should be the starter. Period.

He can play sometimes, like in back to backs. And if there aren’t any back to backs for a stretch? You can throw him in a game here and there.

The fact that he got the game Sunday was bullshit. Especially with the back to back coming up.

Why should this be a tandem? There’s one goalie that’s much better than the other and he should get more games. Period. It shouldn’t be a controversy and it shouldn’t have to be argued anymore.

 

[Guttersniped]

Ten NHL players who are falling out of favor and emerging as possible trade candidates

These players probably won't be moved by the March 3 trade deadline but could end up on new NHL rosters by the start of next season.

theathletic.com

 

[HBK27]

How about that Blackwood!

Did Ruff address why Vanecek got the start against Anaheim and Blackwood against the Kings? I'm sure most assumed it would've been the opposite.

Maybe something to do with Blackwood's career stats against the Kings, which now stands at 2-0, 1.74 GAA, .950 SV%?

 

[NJDevs26]

Would you expect Lindy to actually address that lol...nobody's going to ask him without Ryan being on the road trip. But yes the working theory (here) is that the record against the Kings played into the switcheroo. Or maybe he just wanted to make sure the two most winnable California games were won, it's one of those reasons in all likelihood.

 

[Bleedred]

How about that Blackwood!

Did Ruff address why Vanecek got the start against Anaheim and Blackwood against the Kings? I'm sure most assumed it would've been the opposite.

Maybe something to do with Blackwood's career stats against the Kings, which now stands at 2-0, 1.74 GAA, .950 SV%?

I would bet it was because of his previous play against them. He's actually 2-0-2 against them. Vanecek was 0-0-1 against Anaheim with a .903% in 1 game before Friday night. I remember had a .903% against Anaheim also, but it was in more games played and I don't remember his record. I think Vanecek was an .875% career against the Kings in 1 game and I can't remember if that was an OT loss or a regulation loss.

Would you expect Lindy to actually address that lol...nobody's going to ask him without Ryan being on the road trip. But yes the working theory (here) is that the record against the Kings played into the switcheroo. Or maybe he just wanted to make sure the two most winnable California games were won, it's one of those reasons in all likelihood.

I thought he has said something like this? That they look at the goalie's play against a particular team? Maybe I'm thinking of another staff.

I remember Pete saying they look at career play against a particular opponent when deciding what teams they'll play Marty and what teams they'll play Hedberg on a back to back.