I was thought I didn’t like Smith. But man. You really don’t like Blackwood.
I understand that there are big chance he will not return as a Devils player after next season, I’m ok with it, I’m worry about goalies in perspectiv. But let’s face it. Samsonov of wasn’t better than Blackwood. And wsh goalies were pretty average last year. Yes, our tandem isn’t sexy, but for now this duo is… ok. Let’s live with it next season. I believe if we wait some success, puck is on offensive side. No matter how good or bad or tandem will play. (In adequate borders)
Speaking of Smith (mods have my blessing to move this to the general team thread if necessary. I already diverted my last reply regarding Blackwood in this thread to the team thread so I wouldn't hijack the Wood signing thread into a thread about the other Wood lol), this is exactly what I'm talking about. And it goes right back to the goalies are overrated and get a ton of rope claim that I'm always beating on this forum. People were so quick to throw Smith away after one bad season, despite how good he was in his rookie year. And yet Blackwood has two bad seasons and sometimes it felt like more people wanted to send Smith away than Blackwood and that Blackwood bouncing back was MUCH MORE OF A GUARANTEE than Smith ever bouncing back. And I'm not talking about you particularly, as there were many people who were done with Smith before last year even ended. It's just the sentiment and seeing him get a shorter leash than Blackwood, who had been bad for even longer.
By the way, I'm fine with Smith being traded. I think he could still be good, but at this stage in the game and his career you trade him for Marino with no hesitation.
You're right, Samsonov's career has been even more of a disappointment than Blackwood's to this point. If Blackwood has one more bad year then I think it's safe to say he's firmly at least matched Samsonov in disappointment. The difference in Samsonov and Blackwood is that Blackwood has had two solid NHL seasons in 4 years in the league, Samsonov has had only one solid season in the NHL in 3 years in the league.
Samsonov's 19-20 was solid, but it was exactly like Blackwood's 18-19 where he had to sit behind Holtby, who the stupid ass Caps KNEW they weren't bringing back anyway, but yeah, we gotta placate the old, washed up has-been because he won a Vezina a few years ago and a cup a couple years ago and he used to be elite at one time, despite the fact that he's not even close to that or even average anymore.
Blackwood had to sit behind Cory in 19-20 and alternate starts with him for the last 5-6 weeks of that season and he did spend a lot of that year in the AHL before having to be called up because Cory sucked and then eventually got injured and Kinkaid had a nervous breakdown and blew up.
Blackwood was the starter in 19-20 and had a solid (not great but good) season, especially for still kind of being a rookie. In the years Samsonov had the ability to be the starter he was outplayed by Vanecek on the same team. Especially by a significant margin last season.
So yes, Blackwood right now has had a little better of a career than Samsonov. They're the same age and from the same draft. And in a 2015 redraft I would absolutely select Blackwood over Samsonov. Samsonov will probably live off of his first round draft pick status for quite some time.
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