Value of: Mackenzie Blackwood

[Puckclektr]

Blackwood not geting the vaccine is one of the major issues why people don't like him.
The guy had injuries and has struggled to bounce back, but even when he plays well, it isn't acknowledged or when he makes a save it isn't talked about and excuses are made as to why it was a routine save. Its unreal the hate people have for him. Every goal he lets in is a Blackwood sucks mentality instead of blaming the person responsible.
HE hasn't been as good as he was prior to covid or injuries. We ALL can admit that. Hes probably been worse than average, but so was this team. It wasn't just goaltending because how we are playing this year is hands down far better than how the Devils played last year. Its not even close. But he isn't as bad as most people are making him out to be.
I'd like to think he can bounce back and be a number one goalie but he still needs a consistant opportunity to play without geting hurt. He is pretty injury prone if anything.
People don't not just think he is good, people HATE him. And from my memory of discussion on this forum all stems from him not wanting to get the vaccine and when you look back at the reason why he didn't want it, he was 100% right when you look at the science and data. They loved him and thought he was their future goalie and the longer he wnet without getting vaxxed the less popular and more shitty of a goalie he became.


Vanecek started off the season with a bad game just like Mack did and had a worse SV%. Didn't get the hate Blackwood did. Yes the fans called him out but not like Mack was. Then Blackwood won three straight and was 3-1. The game agsint Washington was where people lost it on Blackwood while ignroing the fact that the team was terrible and didn't call out the bad defensive plays by their "hero's" and what led to the goals.

Coming from someone who has seen Blackwood play at least a dozen times before he was drafted, I didnt' think he was an NHL goalie until he proved me wrong. Then the injuries and Covid hit and he hasn't bounced back. But he doesn't suck. He may never get back to what he was, but I still want to give him a chance to prove he can still be that guy before we trade him for a mid round pick. I'd rather keep him right now as his value is pretty low and see what we got with him. Hopefully he bounces back. and when he does there will still be people who will blame him.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Blackwood not geting the vaccine is one of the major issues why people don't like him.
The guy had injuries and has struggled to bounce back, but even when he plays well, it isn't acknowledged or when he makes a save it isn't talked about and excuses are made as to why it was a routine save. Its unreal the hate people have for him. Every goal he lets in is a Blackwood sucks mentality instead of blaming the person responsible.
HE hasn't been as good as he was prior to covid or injuries. We ALL can admit that. Hes probably been worse than average, but so was this team. It wasn't just goaltending because how we are playing this year is hands down far better than how the Devils played last year. Its not even close. But he isn't as bad as most people are making him out to be.
I'd like to think he can bounce back and be a number one goalie but he still needs a consistant opportunity to play without geting hurt. He is pretty injury prone if anything.
People don't not just think he is good, people HATE him. And from my memory of discussion on this forum all stems from him not wanting to get the vaccine and when you look back at the reason why he didn't want it, he was 100% right when you look at the science and data. They loved him and thought he was their future goalie and the longer he wnet without getting vaxxed the less popular and more shitty of a goalie he became.


Vanecek started off the season with a bad game just like Mack did and had a worse SV%. Didn't get the hate Blackwood did. Yes the fans called him out but not like Mack was. Then Blackwood won three straight and was 3-1. The game agsint Washington was where people lost it on Blackwood while ignroing the fact that the team was terrible and didn't call out the bad defensive plays by their "hero's" and what led to the goals.

Coming from someone who has seen Blackwood play at least a dozen times before he was drafted, I didnt' think he was an NHL goalie until he proved me wrong. Then the injuries and Covid hit and he hasn't bounced back. But he doesn't suck. He may never get back to what he was, but I still want to give him a chance to prove he can still be that guy before we trade him for a mid round pick. I'd rather keep him right now as his value is pretty low and see what we got with him. Hopefully he bounces back. and when he does there will still be people who will blame him.

The person responsible is Blackwood. Since the start of 2020-21 he has appeared in 67 games and has only posted a SV% above .900% in 21 of them.

Even in his 27 wins, he's allowed 3 or more goals 11 times.

In his three game win streak this season he faced a total of 59 shots, and in the game he saw the most action it was a paltry 22 shots. The most shots he's faced in a game this season is 24, and he gave up 4 goals.

Half of his games this season he's faced fewer than 20 shots! But his SV% is at a disgusting .880%. That is no ones fault but his own.

Vanacek has faced 25 shots or more 6 times and has won every game. His SV% is at or above .900% in 11 of his 13 decisions. His first game was rough but since then he's been outstanding and earned the benefit of the doubt.

There is no reason to give Blackwood the benefit of the doubt. He has not earned it. He had one nice stretch in 2020 after Hines was fired, the rest of his career he has been awful. This isn't a bad stretch or a recent thing. There's no excuses anymore. The team is good, the defense is good, he had 8 months off to recover before training camp. And he still can't make a save.

I have no idea why some people choose to continue defending this guy. He's a bad goalie, he can't stay healthy, he doesn't want to be here, and he's a drama magnet. Launch him into the f***ing sun.

 

[Smitty426]

The person responsible is Blackwood. Since the start of 2020-21 he has appeared in 67 games and has only posted a SV% above .900% in 21 of them.

Even in his 27 wins, he's allowed 3 or more goals 11 times.

In his three game win streak this season he faced a total of 59 shots, and in the game he saw the most action it was a paltry 22 shots. The most shots he's faced in a game this season is 24, and he gave up 4 goals.

Half of his games this season he's faced fewer than 20 shots! But his SV% is at a disgusting .880%. That is no ones fault but his own.

Vanacek has faced 25 shots or more 6 times and has won every game. His SV% is at or above .900% in 11 of his 13 decisions. His first game was rough but since then he's been outstanding and earned the benefit of the doubt.

There is no reason to give Blackwood the benefit of the doubt. He has not earned it. He had one nice stretch in 2020 after Hines was fired, the rest of his career he has been awful. This isn't a bad stretch or a recent thing. There's no excuses anymore. The team is good, the defense is good, he had 8 months off to recover before training camp. And he still can't make a save.

I have no idea why some people choose to continue defending this guy. He's a bad goalie, he can't stay healthy, he doesn't want to be here, and he's a drama magnet. Launch him into the f***ing sun.

Thunder, I don't think you are defending your position enough, please be a little more fact-based! ; )

 

[HugeInTheShire]

At one point I thought Blackwood could be a starter in the NHL, now with all the injuries I'm not sold he can even be an NHL backup.
I don't imagine he has a whole lot of value to anyone right now.

 

[HBK27]

I have no idea why some people choose to continue defending this guy. He's a bad goalie, he can't stay healthy, he doesn't want to be here, and he's a drama magnet. Launch him into the f***ing sun.

I get the first two, but where has it ever come out that he doesn't want to be here and how is he a drama magnet?

 

[Puckclektr]

The person responsible is Blackwood. Since the start of 2020-21 he has appeared in 67 games and has only posted a SV% above .900% in 21 of them.

Even in his 27 wins, he's allowed 3 or more goals 11 times.

In his three game win streak this season he faced a total of 59 shots, and in the game he saw the most action it was a paltry 22 shots. The most shots he's faced in a game this season is 24, and he gave up 4 goals.

Half of his games this season he's faced fewer than 20 shots! But his SV% is at a disgusting .880%. That is no ones fault but his own.

Vanacek has faced 25 shots or more 6 times and has won every game. His SV% is at or above .900% in 11 of his 13 decisions. His first game was rough but since then he's been outstanding and earned the benefit of the doubt.

There is no reason to give Blackwood the benefit of the doubt. He has not earned it. He had one nice stretch in 2020 after Hines was fired, the rest of his career he has been awful. This isn't a bad stretch or a recent thing. There's no excuses anymore. The team is good, the defense is good, he had 8 months off to recover before training camp. And he still can't make a save.

I have no idea why some people choose to continue defending this guy. He's a bad goalie, he can't stay healthy, he doesn't want to be here, and he's a drama magnet. Launch him into the f***ing sun.

When people can't analyze a play or purposly ignore the fact that the goal was becasue a man left all alone in front of the net for a tap in and Blackwood is still blamed then I "defend him" as it isn't his fault.
I also admit that he has let in some soft goals this year as well which is why I called him "probably worse than average".
Vancaek could make a save in a game and on the GDT there are people that instead of being thankful for having a good goalie will jump right to Blackwood wouldn've let that in.
The same people that call Blackwood out for letting in a goal that most goalies aren't stopping, because of a terrible defensive play, will argue a nice save that he made becasue it was a "routine" save.
People can't accept that Blackwood played well or made some great plays. They won't ackknowldege it and are quick to ignore the actual goal. All teams have fans that do it. They jump on the bandwagon and are narrow minded to whatever happened. They gotta blame someone and many times blame him for goals that he isn't at fault for.
Ovechkin scored in that game I was talking about. A one timer from the same spot where he has scored hundreds of goals against all the top goalies in the league and it was MAckenzies fauly becasue he didnt' read the play fast enough.

See you lose credibilty when you say he had one nice strectch and the rest of his career he has been awful.
His rookie season he had the same SV% as Price and Rinne. Better than Hellebucyk, Fleury, Bobrovsky, Rask< gibson, Anderson and Dubnyk who are all really good #1 goalies.

The next year he had a better record and was being praised as our goalie of the future. So don't give me the he had a good stretch and then was awful. You are a perfect example of the peopel I am talking about.

The team was so bad the year after when Hall left that it would be almost impossible to have a goalie help us. Pavel Zacha was our leading scorer that year and our top defensemen were Severson, Ty Smith, Subban, Kulikov, Murray while Vatanen was limited to games. Youre not going to win any games when you only have 2 top four defensemen who aren't even known as defensive defensemen . We got a combined almost 70 games from Tennyson, BUtcher, Bahl and Carrick. I don't care who you put in net, you are not going to win many games. Brodeur in his prime isn't saving them. Blackwood was NOT the issue.

Last year we were terrible as well. Blackwood did NOT play well. But who did. Nico Daws over performed. The team was a defensive let down. Although much of the same team on paper we ALL know this is NOT the same team as last year.
Much of this was vaccine related and the hate he received from that still has yet to rub off.
Is he good? No Was he good? Yes Did injuries play a factor on his development? Yes

I'm not saying MAckenzie will ever be a number one goalie. I'm just saying that if he got vaccinated there wouldn't be as much hate. Hamilton was given a mulligan last year cuz of his injuries and the fact that he wasn't good and he is a veteran being paid $9 million. He never got the hate that Blackwood did. With covid, injuries and a terrible team in front of him the last two years, now that we have a really good team and system why not see if he can get back on track. I can tell you now that if it was Vanacek in net for those years he would have similar numbers to Blackwood

Vanacek spend the last couple year playing in front of a good team. You don't just trade both your young goalies in Vanacek and Samsonov if you think they are a part of the future. Don't you think that Vanacek playing in front of a really good team has boosted his confidence. Aside from this past Washington game and a couple arguable games we aren't winning ebcasue of our goaltending. Vanaceks numbers weren't good to start the season either the same as Blackwoods weren't. But the more the team had to gel, the more his numbers improved. Yes due to his play but also due to the fact that the team continued to improve.
When he comes back Blackwood should be given the backup position and prove that we can be confident with him when he plays. But I still stand behind the fact that his vaccination status was the main reason that the hate started.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

The funny part about all of the vaccine issues a year ago is that he was the one who turned out to be right about the vaccine lol.

 

[My3Sons]

He got the shot because he was coerced into getting it, not for any medical benefit - which I think was wrong to do to players. I agree that he did seem to surprise the team, which surely ruffled a few feathers.

If you want to view the flu shot and covid vaccine as the same thing, that's your right though I respectfully disagree.

As you said, it's a blip in the rear view mirror now and while some fans (not necessarily you) still hold it against him, I don't think management does.

I still think Blackwood should at the very least recover from his injury and get a few starts in NJ before any possible move is made.

I agree Blackwood was pushed into getting a vaccine but a bunch of players probably were. That's a league issue. The team and Blackwood issue is that his decision impacted his team's ability to compete in certain games (at least in theory). His decision is between him and his teammates but my guess is that some were fine with it and some were disappointed. Given the train wreck of that season it didn't ultimately matter in my view, and at this point, as others have noted, Blackwood's status with NJ probably rises and falls with his ordinary hockey variety injuries. I expect he returns from this injury and has a conditioning stint and then gets a chance to rebuild his game and the team will go from there. If the team is competitive at the TDL it's hard to see them moving Blackwood for the middle round pick he'd probably return. Presumably they just don't qualify him after the season and he signs elsewhere.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

Blackwood isn't for sale. His future for next season is up in the air depending on how he plays after his return from injury. He has been better this year when it comes to winning games but his Save% was still sub .900. I'm honestly not too sure we go on that win streak for 13 games if he was healthy and playing.

 

[Smitty426]

When people can't analyze a play or purposly ignore the fact that the goal was becasue a man left all alone in front of the net for a tap in and Blackwood is still blamed then I "defend him" as it isn't his fault.
I also admit that he has let in some soft goals this year as well which is why I called him "probably worse than average".
Vancaek could make a save in a game and on the GDT there are people that instead of being thankful for having a good goalie will jump right to Blackwood wouldn've let that in.
The same people that call Blackwood out for letting in a goal that most goalies aren't stopping, because of a terrible defensive play, will argue a nice save that he made becasue it was a "routine" save.
People can't accept that Blackwood played well or made some great plays. They won't ackknowldege it and are quick to ignore the actual goal. All teams have fans that do it. They jump on the bandwagon and are narrow minded to whatever happened. They gotta blame someone and many times blame him for goals that he isn't at fault for.
Ovechkin scored in that game I was talking about. A one timer from the same spot where he has scored hundreds of goals against all the top goalies in the league and it was MAckenzies fauly becasue he didnt' read the play fast enough.

See you lose credibilty when you say he had one nice strectch and the rest of his career he has been awful.
His rookie season he had the same SV% as Price and Rinne. Better than Hellebucyk, Fleury, Bobrovsky, Rask< gibson, Anderson and Dubnyk who are all really good #1 goalies.

The next year he had a better record and was being praised as our goalie of the future. So don't give me the he had a good stretch and then was awful. You are a perfect example of the peopel I am talking about.

The team was so bad the year after when Hall left that it would be almost impossible to have a goalie help us. Pavel Zacha was our leading scorer that year and our top defensemen were Severson, Ty Smith, Subban, Kulikov, Murray while Vatanen was limited to games. Youre not going to win any games when you only have 2 top four defensemen who aren't even known as defensive defensemen . We got a combined almost 70 games from Tennyson, BUtcher, Bahl and Carrick. I don't care who you put in net, you are not going to win many games. Brodeur in his prime isn't saving them. Blackwood was NOT the issue.

Last year we were terrible as well. Blackwood did NOT play well. But who did. Nico Daws over performed. The team was a defensive let down. Although much of the same team on paper we ALL know this is NOT the same team as last year.
Much of this was vaccine related and the hate he received from that still has yet to rub off.
Is he good? No Was he good? Yes Did injuries play a factor on his development? Yes

I'm not saying MAckenzie will ever be a number one goalie. I'm just saying that if he got vaccinated there wouldn't be as much hate. Hamilton was given a mulligan last year cuz of his injuries and the fact that he wasn't good and he is a veteran being paid $9 million. He never got the hate that Blackwood did. With covid, injuries and a terrible team in front of him the last two years, now that we have a really good team and system why not see if he can get back on track. I can tell you now that if it was Vanacek in net for those years he would have similar numbers to Blackwood

Vanacek spend the last couple year playing in front of a good team. You don't just trade both your young goalies in Vanacek and Samsonov if you think they are a part of the future. Don't you think that Vanacek playing in front of a really good team has boosted his confidence. Aside from this past Washington game and a couple arguable games we aren't winning ebcasue of our goaltending. Vanaceks numbers weren't good to start the season either the same as Blackwoods weren't. But the more the team had to gel, the more his numbers improved. Yes due to his play but also due to the fact that the team continued to improve.
When he comes back Blackwood should be given the backup position and prove that we can be confident with him when he plays. But I still stand behind the fact that his vaccination status was the main reason that the hate started.

Disagree on winning games bc of VV.
Alot of this is when the team has a lapse, VV is there to bail them out. Since MB got run into from Kakko he has not had that game saving ability. Team stunk last yr but had they gotten avg G works they have sucked as bad? Same team different resukts this yr, difference so far is goaltending, you said it yourself.

He'll rehab, go to Utica and then get some games. If he's not stellar, they move him. Because another 3-4 was Schmid will have to play and depending on where that goes dictates MBs future.

 

[Puckclektr]

Thunder, I don't think you are defending your position enough, please be a little more fact-based! ; )

What facts? The fact that the team was absolutly terrible the last two years and unless you have a Vezina calibre goalie for the whole season the team wasn't going nowhere. Probably still wouldn't even make the playoffs with Brodeur at his best.
Two seasons ago you have a 23 year old goalie playing on arguably the worst team in the league with Pavel Zacha as your leading scorer and a defense that consisted of Severson, Butcher, Ty Smith, Murray and Subban, Kulikov, Carrick, Tennyson and 30 games of Vatanen while aslo dealing with injuries inclduing an alleged really bad bout of covid. Two years later how many of those D are still playing in the NHL? Severson is the best of them all who we know is a #4 second PP defenseman who can be downright terrible on defense but was put out against the top players in the league for both those bad Blackwood years while we currently cringe when he and Smith is on the ice as a bottom pairing D.
What did you expect a young goalie to do with a terrible defense? Dell had some decent numbers in the years leading up to him playing in NJ and he got lit up a lot worse than Blackwood. What did we think would happen to his confidence?

Lets see what would happen to Vancek playing in that situation.
Now like I have said in previous posts. Vancek is obviosuly playing better. But how much better was he playing at first when the team was just starting out.
Lets ignore the first two games against Philly and Detroit both not good games by Blackwood and Vanacek.

Blackwood was NOT bad at all. He wasn't really good either and never really needed to be good except for the SJ game which was close and the Washington game which he was blamed for.
OUtside of the Washington game and the first game agsint Philly he has a save percentage of .920.
Vanaceks first 7 games not including his first loss he is a .929. Which is a better but by no means was he much better than Blackwood. Better yes, but not to the point were Blackwood sucked. I can gurantee that Vanacek has had a huge confidence boost playing with this defense and a team that continues to get better. In those same games NJ scores 3.29 GPG with Blackwood and 3.86 with Vanacek. Goals for in any game can chance the flow of the game and give a team more confidence. We all admitted that in the LEaf game when the goals were called back. If that first goal wasn't called back it would've been a completly differnet game.
Blackwoods last full game he just won them their fourth in a row and they went into that game 6-3. Now what kind of confidence would he have had going into the game where they are 9-3 or 12-3. That was a clear advantage to Vanacek.
Go back and watch the Washington goals. The same handful of people blamed him on all those goals while ignoring the rest of the team and their devensive meltdowns. Its not even about wethere he should've made saves it is ignoring the part that got to the point where he had to make saves which is the problem. The goalie doesn't control the play and the goalie for the most part unless he plays the puck wrong or gives up a bad rebound isn't the reason there are shots on net. Generalyl it is becasue of a mistake made by his OWN team mates which for the vast majority of fans are often ignored and the golaie ends up being the last line of defense.

Go back and watch the highlights from the bad game he had in Washington where people blamed him and a good percentage of the people blamed ONLY him. Analyze the goals

Dowd goal. Passed out front from a play behind the net. Mercers man left wide open. There is a reason why Gretzky played behind the net. That’s the only spot that isn’t 100% visible to a goalie. As a goalie you can ‘t watch the play behind the net and men out front of the net simultaneously. Blackwood blamed.

HAthaway goal. Severson literally gives the puck away so HAthaway is in all alone and shoots a bouncing puck into the net. Should Blackwood have had that. Probably, but any goalie will tell you that you can’t read a fluttering bouncing puck off of a stick. Severson giveaway and a bouncing puck. Mack blamed again.

Conor Sheary goal. Bratt gives the puck away and Sheary walk in all alone. Blackwood probably should’ve had it. It was a nice shot. But once again the player making the mistakes gets ignored and the blame is on Blackwood. But because Bratt is great offensively lets ignore the giveaway and attack MAck.

Ovechkin goal. He has scored from that spot probably 250 times in his career. Even the commentator says “no chance for Blackwood” But again. lets blame Blackwood.

Jensen goal. Shot from the point after another defensive breakdown and two caps and a devil in the way to screen the shot that goes in off of the post. Thats going in past many goalies and is unfortunate.

If Vanacek was in that game those first two periods I am guessing the same results wouldv'e happened. Vancek came into the game in the third and NJ only gave up four shots yet scored two goals. Vancek let in a goal with a MArino pinch after falling down to early. If that was Blackwood the GDT would've erupted.


Now like I said. I am not calling Blackwood a good goalie. I even said he is proabbly below average. He was playing really well and for "more than a stretch" but this team didn't come flying out the gate this year when Blackwood was playing and he played behind a terrible D and injuries for the last two years.
Most of the hate is vaccine related and people aren't willing to see what actually happened and are just willing to jump on him and not see what he can do with an actual good team snd defense.

 

[Smitty426]

What facts? The fact that the team was absolutly terrible the last two years and unless you have a Vezina calibre goalie for the whole season the team wasn't going nowhere. Probably still wouldn't even make the playoffs with Brodeur at his best.
Two seasons ago you have a 23 year old goalie playing on arguably the worst team in the league with Pavel Zacha as your leading scorer and a defense that consisted of Severson, Butcher, Ty Smith, Murray and Subban, Kulikov, Carrick, Tennyson and 30 games of Vatanen while aslo dealing with injuries inclduing an alleged really bad bout of covid. Two years later how many of those D are still playing in the NHL? Severson is the best of them all who we know is a #4 second PP defenseman who can be downright terrible on defense but was put out against the top players in the league for both those bad Blackwood years while we currently cringe when he and Smith is on the ice as a bottom pairing D.
What did you expect a young goalie to do with a terrible defense? Dell had some decent numbers in the years leading up to him playing in NJ and he got lit up a lot worse than Blackwood. What did we think would happen to his confidence?

Lets see what would happen to Vancek playing in that situation.
Now like I have said in previous posts. Vancek is obviosuly playing better. But how much better was he playing at first when the team was just starting out.
Lets ignore the first two games against Philly and Detroit both not good games by Blackwood and Vanacek.

Blackwood was NOT bad at all. He wasn't really good either and never really needed to be good except for the SJ game which was close and the Washington game which he was blamed for.
OUtside of the Washington game and the first game agsint Philly he has a save percentage of .920.
Vanaceks first 7 games not including his first loss he is a .929. Which is a better but by no means was he much better than Blackwood. Better yes, but not to the point were Blackwood sucked. I can gurantee that Vanacek has had a huge confidence boost playing with this defense and a team that continues to get better. In those same games NJ scores 3.29 GPG with Blackwood and 3.86 with Vanacek. Goals for in any game can chance the flow of the game and give a team more confidence. We all admitted that in the LEaf game when the goals were called back. If that first goal wasn't called back it would've been a completly differnet game.
Blackwoods last full game he just won them their fourth in a row and they went into that game 6-3. Now what kind of confidence would he have had going into the game where they are 9-3 or 12-3. That was a clear advantage to Vanacek.
Go back and watch the Washington goals. The same handful of people blamed him on all those goals while ignoring the rest of the team and their devensive meltdowns. Its not even about wethere he should've made saves it is ignoring the part that got to the point where he had to make saves which is the problem. The goalie doesn't control the play and the goalie for the most part unless he plays the puck wrong or gives up a bad rebound isn't the reason there are shots on net. Generalyl it is becasue of a mistake made by his OWN team mates which for the vast majority of fans are often ignored and the golaie ends up being the last line of defense.

Go back and watch the highlights from the bad game he had in Washington where people blamed him and a good percentage of the people blamed ONLY him. Analyze the goals

Dowd goal. Passed out front from a play behind the net. Mercers man left wide open. There is a reason why Gretzky played behind the net. That’s the only spot that isn’t 100% visible to a goalie. As a goalie you can ‘t watch the play behind the net and men out front of the net simultaneously. Blackwood blamed.

HAthaway goal. Severson literally gives the puck away so HAthaway is in all alone and shoots a bouncing puck into the net. Should Blackwood have had that. Probably, but any goalie will tell you that you can’t read a fluttering bouncing puck off of a stick. Severson giveaway and a bouncing puck. Mack blamed again.

Conor Sheary goal. Bratt gives the puck away and Sheary walk in all alone. Blackwood probably should’ve had it. It was a nice shot. But once again the player making the mistakes gets ignored and the blame is on Blackwood. But because Bratt is great offensively lets ignore the giveaway and attack MAck.

Ovechkin goal. He has scored from that spot probably 250 times in his career. Even the commentator says “no chance for Blackwood” But again. lets blame Blackwood.

Jensen goal. Shot from the point after another defensive breakdown and two caps and a devil in the way to screen the shot that goes in off of the post. Thats going in past many goalies and is unfortunate.

If Vanacek was in that game those first two periods I am guessing the same results wouldv'e happened. Vancek came into the game in the third and NJ only gave up four shots yet scored two goals. Vancek let in a goal with a MArino pinch after falling down to early. If that was Blackwood the GDT would've erupted.


Now like I said. I am not calling Blackwood a good goalie. I even said he is proabbly below average. He was playing really well and for "more than a stretch" but this team didn't come flying out the gate this year when Blackwood was playing and he played behind a terrible D and injuries for the last two years.
Most of the hate is vaccine related and people aren't willing to see what actually happened and are just willing to jump on him and not see what he can do with an actual good team snd defense.

I was being a smart-ass, chill.
I like MB, FACT is he has not played very good in recent history. I made a point to a friend this summer, I hope they get a G who is told go steal this guys job, that's happening. Whether by luck, accident, skill. Really I don't care why, just that it is. And if that means MB is our #3 G then it does. I am hoping Schmid has secured a spot or not so we know what we have in the spring. If that's MB as #2 great.

 

[Puckclektr]

Disagree on winning games bc of VV.
Alot of this is when the team has a lapse, VV is there to bail them out. Since MB got run into from Kakko he has not had that game saving ability. Team stunk last yr but had they gotten avg G works they have sucked as bad? Same team different resukts this yr, difference so far is goaltending, you said it yourself.

He'll rehab, go to Utica and then get some games. If he's not stellar, they move him. Because another 3-4 was Schmid will have to play and depending on where that goes dictates MBs future.

I never said it was goaltending. Vancek has played well and we have better goaltending but we aren't really this good becasue of goaltending. Blackwood is still 4-2 and apparently is bad. Is it the same Blackwood as last year>? How is is record better this year but worse SAV%
Yes we got better goaltending and we needed to address that. We did.
We needed to address issues.
A much improved younger team with a little more experience helps.
Bratt and Nico werent' playing at this level all of last year.
Hamilton missed a lot of time and wasn't the same after coming back.
Hughes missed time.
Addition of MArino
Addition of PAlat although not a reason for winning but it addressed a need.
Addition of Haula and deletion of Zacha who never played at the level of intensity that he should have.
Brunette kind of helps.
A system that seems to be working that was not the same system as last year.

Vanacek was a nice addition but he is by no means the reason we are this good. Now aside from the last Washington game he hasn't won us a game. Colorado arguably. Yes he got a shutout but he wasn't really tested that much. Would Blackwood have won those games. Maybe not. But Vancek isn't the reason.

It helps we are allowing the least amount of shots agsint per game and many of those are not high quality scoring chances. That helps.

This isn't about how good Vancek is or even if he was the best goalie inthe leaguie. This is about how Mackenzie Blackwood is. And he isn't as bad as most Devil fans are saying. Givwe the kid a chance to play with a good team, get his confidence back and maybe improve to where he was before. Injuries havne't helped him.

 

[Puckclektr]

I was being a smart-ass, chill.
I like MB, FACT is he has not played very good in recent history. I made a point to a friend this summer, I hope they get a G who is told go steal this guys job, that's happening. Whether by luck, accident, skill. Really I don't care why, just that it is. And if that means MB is our #3 G then it does. I am hoping Schmid has secured a spot or not so we know what we have in the spring. If that's MB as #2 great.

I'm not being a dick or anything. I am just responding to a comment that was obviously directed towards me.

We aren't arguing the fact that he wasn't very good in recent hisotry. But playing with the defense he did and the injuries he tried to recover from mayeb that is why he "wasn't good". If there is any position in sports where confidence can destory a career, it is goaltending. Just like a pitcher in baseball.

We aren't saying he is better than Vanacek either and I am not saying you are saying that. But the hate on Mackenzie started with the vaccine. People can deny it until the cows come home and he hasn't been given a fair shot by a good percentage of fans since.
THAT is why I defend him.
IS Vancek the better goalie. Yes. Can Vancek have a streak where he shits the bed. Yes. Once that happens is there a chance that Blackwood can come back and be the 1A? Yes. It happens often. Goalies have bad games and the other goalie competing can take over the number one becasue he is playing hot.
Before Covid Devil fans were excited that we had out goalie of the future and one we could rebuild with. Were all on board? Nope. I wasn't too sure he was THAT elite goalie like people thought he would be.

People just need to stop with tthe Blackwood hate. LEts see what he can do first. That is if he can stay healthy which IMO is the biggest issue.

 

[Smitty426]

I'm not being a dick or anything. I am just responding to a comment that was obviously directed towards me.

We aren't arguing the fact that he wasn't very good in recent hisotry. But playing with the defense he did and the injuries he tried to recover from mayeb that is why he "wasn't good". If there is any position in sports where confidence can destory a career, it is goaltending. Just like a pitcher in baseball.

We aren't saying he is better than Vanacek either and I am not saying you are saying that. But the hate on Mackenzie started with the vaccine. People can deny it until the cows come home and he hasn't been given a fair shot by a good percentage of fans since.
THAT is why I defend him.
IS Vancek the better goalie. Yes. Can Vancek have a streak where he shits the bed. Yes. Once that happens is there a chance that Blackwood can come back and be the 1A? Yes. It happens often. Goalies have bad games and the other goalie competing can take over the number one becasue he is playing hot.
Before Covid Devil fans were excited that we had out goalie of the future and one we could rebuild with. Were all on board? Nope. I wasn't too sure he was THAT elite goalie like people thought he would be.

People just need to stop with tthe Blackwood hate. LEts see what he can do first. That is if he can stay healthy which IMO is the biggest issue.

Look at the last line of my comment you quoted here.

 

[Puckclektr]

Look at the last line of my comment you quoted here.

I'm not getting your point. My last comment or your last comment. Becasue you bolded mine, but mentioned yours.
if you are talkign about your last line "If MB is a number two that's great", then that doesn't mean that Blackwood isn't being hated on unfairly. thats your opinion

 

[Smitty426]

I'm not getting your point. My last comment or your last comment. Becasue you bolded mine, but mentioned yours.
if you are talkign about your last line "If MB is a number two that's great", then that doesn't mean that Blackwood isn't being hated on unfairly. thats your opinion

MB will have a chance to get back into the fold, playing good and winning has a funny way of providing goodwill by fans. If he falls apart it wouldn't surprise me to be sent to Utica

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

If Devs continue the push for the playoffs and Blackwood gets back to the team, let him get some showcase gms. I'd try and trade him to SJ for Reimer. He'd be great in this role. He's a ufa, SJ not going anywhere this year, and maybe Blackwood gets a redo in SJ. They can sell his rights in the summer if it's not the right fit. Money is about the same i believe


Don't forget 2 rounds of Covid. He got it bad the first time abs gave it to the whole team!

Gave it to the whole team? Are we still living in 2020?

Can you pile anymore on a player who has hard luck?

Before the injury he was playing very well - thanks mainly to Marino and the much improved NJ defense.

Schmid did not win a game last year and has not lost this season.

He didn't suddenly turn into Jacques Plante over the summer.

Saint Martin himself wouldn't have fared well on the 2021-22 Devils.

 

[Smitty426]

Gave it to the whole team? Are we still living in 2020?

Can you pile anymore on a player who has hard luck?

Before the injury he was playing very well - thanks mainly to Marino and the much improved NJ defense.

Schmid did not win a game last year and has not lost this season.

He didn't suddenly turn into Jacques Plante over the summer.

Saint Martin himself wouldn't have fared well on the 2021-22 Devils.

If you think Mackenzie Blackwood is going to walk back into the picture and have the reins handed to him, you're nuts! Ruff went 11 Fs-7 D until the L and then he made changes, Holtz watch for 15 games and then got moved down while this team was soaring. If anything like this success is happening when MB returns he will be waiting to get games, and rightly so.

Yeah he got covid left the team and then everyone basically on the team got it. No Not 2020, Feb 1, 2021 if I am being specific. Pile on? At some point the guy has to have a relatively injury-free season! Yeah the concussions, got it, covid, ok got it, covid again sure, the heel-this is the one that pisses me off if Im being honest, now MCL.
Playing well, yes W/L was 7-4, GAA- 2.79. SV%- .880 Terrible by any metric
Schmid has a 1.24 GAA and a .953 SV% Sample size is small so its not fair but come on!
No doubt many things contribute to their success and a large part of them are nothing a G can do (PK and Smith gone, Marino added being the biggest) Hamilton being healthy etc.
Stop defending a guy who cant get it together healthwise, its unfortunate, but the team is moving forward. If he can be a healthy contributor, great, by all means contribute. But that has not been the case so far

 

[Puckclektr]

Gave it to the whole team? Are we still living in 2020?

Can you pile anymore on a player who has hard luck?

Before the injury he was playing very well - thanks mainly to Marino and the much improved NJ defense.

Schmid did not win a game last year and has not lost this season.

He didn't suddenly turn into Jacques Plante over the summer.

Saint Martin himself wouldn't have fared well on the 2021-22 Devils.

Well said.

 

[Puckclektr]

If you think Mackenzie Blackwood is going to walk back into the picture and have the reins handed to him, you're nuts! Ruff went 11 Fs-7 D until the L and then he made changes, Holtz watch for 15 games and then got moved down while this team was soaring. If anything like this success is happening when MB returns he will be waiting to get games, and rightly so.

Yeah he got covid left the team and then everyone basically on the team got it. No Not 2020, Feb 1, 2021 if I am being specific. Pile on? At some point the guy has to have a relatively injury-free season! Yeah the concussions, got it, covid, ok got it, covid again sure, the heel-this is the one that pisses me off if Im being honest, now MCL.
Playing well, yes W/L was 7-4, GAA- 2.79. SV%- .880 Terrible by any metric
Schmid has a 1.24 GAA and a .953 SV% Sample size is small so its not fair but come on!
No doubt many things contribute to their success and a large part of them are nothing a G can do (PK and Smith gone, Marino added being the biggest) Hamilton being healthy etc.
Stop defending a guy who cant get it together healthwise, its unfortunate, but the team is moving forward. If he can be a healthy contributor, great, by all means contribute. But that has not been the case so far

It pissed you off that he can’t get healthy. How do you think the player who essentially gave his life to the game feels?
Nobody is saying that is health And injuries aren’t an issue. They are.
It’s the fact that people gave up on him during the vaccine incident and the fact that the team was absolutely terrible.
You seem pretty upset that he gave the team Covid. Which seems to be proving my point that a lot of the hate is vaccine related. Do you think he purposely gave it to the team or maybe it was easily passed to the team the exact same way it was with the rest of the world?
I’m sure I gave people Covid as well. I know who gave me Covid and I’m sure as hell not going to hold it against them

 

[Smitty426]

It pissed you off that he can’t get healthy. How do you think the player who essentially gave his life to the game feels? Honestly more that he continued to play on it. Now maybe thats management saying we need you to play through it and it got worse/wasn't good to start with. So blame to be shared probably. But with all the G health problems in this org. the team has aired on the side of caution ALWAYS, explain then why not him? The entire season was lost because of the poor play (most I'd put at his feet). He could never keep them in a close game
Nobody is saying that is health And injuries aren’t an issue. They are. And pretty much all that I am saying, I am just done with it as you are not
It’s the fact that people gave up on him during the vaccine incident and the fact that the team was absolutely terrible. Many could point to him being a large poryion they were terrible
You seem pretty upset that he gave the team Covid. Which seems to be proving my point that a lot of the hate is vaccine related. Do you think he purposely gave it to the team or maybe it was easily passed to the team the exact same way it was with the rest of the world? No I am more upset that 1-2 yrs have pushed back this team from being where they are today. No more than likely a similar scenario would have played out. Again, once he's healthy if he can contribute, wonderful. If not move on, I have kinda been consistent there, his past history seems to show otherwise.
I’m sure I gave people Covid as well. I know who gave me Covid and I’m sure as hell not going to hold it against them Thats great

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

If you think Mackenzie Blackwood is going to walk back into the picture and have the reins handed to him, you're nuts! Ruff went 11 Fs-7 D until the L and then he made changes, Holtz watch for 15 games and then got moved down while this team was soaring. If anything like this success is happening when MB returns he will be waiting to get games, and rightly so.

Yeah he got covid left the team and then everyone basically on the team got it. No Not 2020, Feb 1, 2021 if I am being specific. Pile on? At some point the guy has to have a relatively injury-free season! Yeah the concussions, got it, covid, ok got it, covid again sure, the heel-this is the one that pisses me off if Im being honest, now MCL.
Playing well, yes W/L was 7-4, GAA- 2.79. SV%- .880 Terrible by any metric
Schmid has a 1.24 GAA and a .953 SV% Sample size is small so its not fair but come on!
No doubt many things contribute to their success and a large part of them are nothing a G can do (PK and Smith gone, Marino added being the biggest) Hamilton being healthy etc.
Stop defending a guy who cant get it together healthwise, its unfortunate, but the team is moving forward. If he can be a healthy contributor, great, by all means contribute. But that has not been the case so far

The point about 2020 was not when he had Covid. It was then when people thought not being vaccinated meant you were a threat to those who were vaccinated.

Reasonable people now realize that was not the case.

 

[Smitty426]

The point about 2020 was not when he had Covid. It was then when people thought not being vaccinated meant you were a threat to those who were vaccinated.

Reasonable people now realize that was not the case.

Great
Let him fix his knee and earn a spot when hes better than our AHL callup
It's an easy ask

 

[biturbo19]

Just scanning through in my head, what teams out there might be desperate enough for goaltending to try a ~$3M reclamation project gamble with some off-ice distraction baggage...

Nobody is really coming to mind. Maybe Buffalo? But not really.