Value of: Mackenzie Blackwood to Edmonton

[Canovin]

The Oilers don't need Blackwood but they do need goaltending. In fact, I think the Oilers need a much better goalie than Stuart Skinner.

 

[Mattb124]

Honest question: what is it with Mackenzie Blackwood that make people think he could be a solid NHL starter? Is it that he was a second round pick? His one good year in the OHL? His one good year in the NHL, 5 years ago?

Because his name keeps coming up, and not in any of the conversations that they probably should pop up, like how he's overpaid despite making just over $2M per year.

Some people spent more time last season watching him play than reading his stats. He was very good playing behind a Sharks defense that was far and away worst in the league.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

The Oilers don't need Blackwood but they do need goaltending. In fact, I think the Oilers need a much better goalie than Stuart Skinner.

Well, Blackwood has been much better than Skinner. Vanecek too but outside of them, you got maybe Anton Forsberg potentially available and then what? Anyone else is likely unavailable to the Oilers for various reasons or is legitimately on par with Skinner in terms of performance.

 

[Romang67]

Some people spent more time last season watching him play than reading his stats. He was very good playing behind a Sharks defense that was far and away worst in the league.

Neat. I hope one day he can perform to where he look like a good goalie statistically as well.

 

[joestevens29]

Systems play mostly. Sloppyness, carelessness, blown coverage. Stu isn't a world beater, but I don't really think he is the problem. In a perfect world, we would have someone better, but that isn't Blackwood. The only way I consider Blackwood, is if we wanted to move on from Pickard, but he's been pretty good for the most part once again, so despite being in favour of this idea a week ago, I think I've changed my mind- Blackwood isn't worth the extra cap. hit. That 2nd pair RHD spot is still the biggest hole to fix.

It’s not systems. We had personnel issues last year and made our defense worse this year, but yes let’s blame systems when half the defense should be in the AHL

 

[Soundwave]

It’s not systems. We had personnel issues last year and made our defense worse this year, but yes let’s blame systems when half the defense should be in the AHL

The Oilers allow some of the fewest high danger chances against in the league (both of the last two years).

Emberson and Stetcher haven't lost the Oilers any games this year, they've been fine.

Skinner just sucks at making high danger saves. Partly because he's slow as molasses in net.

The PP, PK (goalies on the PK specifically), offense (yes offense) being out of sync are losing the Oilers games this season.

 

[ManofSteel55]

It’s not systems. We had personnel issues last year and made our defense worse this year, but yes let’s blame systems when half the defense should be in the AHL

We have one hole on the blueline. It's blown coverage and brain farts, like it is every year. It isn't only our bottom end defense guys that are causing issues this year. It's half the roster. There is exactly three players on the Oilers right now that look like AHL'ers - one we signed off of a PTO, one is as old as dirt and looks aged out, and the other is our starting goalie. The rest of it, is guys blowing coverage and not sticking to the systems.

 

[My3Sons]

I think from the NHL circles, it's the athletic ability that makes NHL people think he can be a solid starter. His numbers in San Jose have at least been positive relative to his team. It's impressive to me to have a goalie on that bad of a team still be able to have a positive goals save above expected even if the standard numbers you may look at for goalies like save percentage and GAA are pretty clearly not good. The Blackwood that has been playing in San Jose is at least a consistently solid presence that isn't a detriment to the team. A team with bad goaltending like the Avs and Oilers may only have the capability of bringing a player of Blackwood's value because he'd be cheap to acquire. There's not a lot of those types of goalies available right now.

I think if Blackwood goes back to a demanding environment he will look like he did in NJ. I like him and wish him success but he was at his most inoconsistent as the team improved and was trying to win rather than trying to rebuild and develop players.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

Yeah... reaching to the bottom of the barrel for a savior always works.

Lankinen does just fine with Canucks.

 

[joestevens29]

We have one hole on the blueline. It's blown coverage and brain farts, like it is every year. It isn't only our bottom end defense guys that are causing issues this year. It's half the roster. There is exactly three players on the Oilers right now that look like AHL'ers - one we signed off of a PTO, one is as old as dirt and looks aged out, and the other is our starting goalie. The rest of it, is guys blowing coverage and not sticking to the systems.

This is what happens when you don’t have depth and overplay guys

 

[PAZ]

Honest question: what is it with Mackenzie Blackwood that make people think he could be a solid NHL starter? Is it that he was a second round pick? His one good year in the OHL? His one good year in the NHL, 5 years ago?

Because his name keeps coming up, and not in any of the conversations that they probably should pop up, like how he's overpaid despite making just over $2M per year.

Because any contender with goaltending woes (Colorado and Edmonton in particular) are willing to give up a mid round pick to gamble. Blackwood is by no means great, but he's a lottery ticket and most likely isn't worse than what they already have. In terms of age and contract, $2 mil is around what you pay for a 1B and 27-28 is usually where they really show if they can be an average starter or not. There's 3-5 elite goalies, a few above average, and a whole lot of meh at the moment.

And the most important point, goalies are voodoo.

 

[Devilsfan2326]

Honest question: what is it with Mackenzie Blackwood that make people think he could be a solid NHL starter? Is it that he was a second round pick? His one good year in the OHL? His one good year in the NHL, 5 years ago?

Because his name keeps coming up, and not in any of the conversations that they probably should pop up, like how he's overpaid despite making just over $2M per year.

Some other people have offered some thoughts. There's also a feeling churning that in the right situation, he could be really strong. With the right defensive structure. Just needs to find the right chemistry with his defense.

He was under immense pressure by NJ for the whole vaccine fiasco, which had to affect his mental game. Teammates, fans, media ganging up on him. His own family too, probably worried about his paycheck and future as a goalie. His poor play coincided with the lockdowns and then all of that crazy pressure off the ice. The defense was pretty poor too. Then he gets shipped off to no-man's land San Jose.

Even with dodgy stats, the mental game is a big factor that if he gets with a cool group of guys, there's still water in his sponge. He hasn't really been passed around all that much or necessarily been treated right in the places he has been. So people pick up on that feeling, that with his head straight, and allowed to focus on just hockey, he could be their strong goalie.

That being said, Edmonton is probably one of the worst places for him. His head needs to continue to get right in a place with lots of sunshine and good cheer. Tampa had it so easy during the lockdowns and collected two straight cups. The state of Florida really had it easy during that time, speaking of course in terms of mental health, because they were barely locked down and had the beautiful sun shining in their faces all day. The players enjoyed that too.