Can we recognize MacKenzie Blackwood as an NHL starting goaltender? Or too soon?

[Pitaya]

MacKenzie has 55 games started in the last two seasons - overall record of 26-22-7 with a .911 sv% and a 2.80 GAA

While his stats arent necessarily impressive by themselves - lets remember he just turned 23 and plays for the New Jersey Devils, the 3rd worst team in the league when you include record over the last season and a half.

MacKenzie is athletically gifted, has great vision, and a very quick glove. He has maintained a positive record behind a BAD team and even has four shutouts to show.

Ive seen talk about guys like Carter Hart and Thatcher Demko - but I dont see a lot about my boy Blackwood.

Is it about time he gets some love?

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[Chef de Cuisine]

he has fantastic stats

 

[Khelandros]

MacKenzie has 55 games started in the last two seasons - overall record of 26-22 with a .911 sv% and a 2.80 GAA

While his stats arent necessarily impressive by themselves - lets remember he just turned 23 and plays for the New Jersey Devils, the 3rd worst team in the league when you include record over the last season and a half.

MacKenzie is athletically gifted, has great vision, and a very quick glove. He has maintained a positive record behind a BAD team and even has four shutouts to show.

Ive seen talk about guys like Carter Hart and Thatcher Demko - but I dont see a lot about my boy Blackwood.

Is it about time he gets some love?

You left out that 7 part. 26-22-7. Or 26-29.

 

[SotasicA]

He's the starter for the Devils, who play in the NHL, so that's all that's needed to recognise him as a starter in the NHL.

Just like Sheldon Keefe is a head coach in the NHL.

 

[SladeWilson23]

His overall numbers won't blow you away, but the dude from watching him play looks like a legit good goalie.

 

[Pitaya]

You left out that 7 part. 26-22-7. Or 26-29.

Well you certainly wouldnt combine them as pure losses, at least not in my opinion

But yes youre right I forgot them, Ill add them now

 

[Pitaya]

He's the starter for the Devils, who play in the NHL, so that's all that's needed to recognise him as a starter in the NHL.

Just like Sheldon Keefe is a head coach in the NHL.

Well I was certainly implying past that

Are you saying you dont think Blackwood and Keefe are deserving of their positions?

 

[Khelandros]

Well you certainly wouldnt combine them as pure losses, at least not in my opinion

But yes youre right I forgot them, Ill add them now

A loss is a loss. It doesn't count as a win.

 

[Pitaya]

A loss is a loss. It doesn't count as a win.

Yes but for goaltenders (and for NHL stat-keeping and standings), overtime/shootout losses are much better than a regulation loss.

26-22-7 is accurate while Id say 26-29 is deceptive.

I call 26-22-7 a positive record

 

[SotasicA]

Well I was certainly implying past that

Are you saying you dont think Blackwood and Keefe are deserving of their positions?

Not at all. Just that being a starter in itself is not a measure of ability. It's a matter of fact.

 

[Crabapple]

Those are good numbers playing for a bottom feeder, especially for a young guy.

Confirmed NHL starter IMO

 

[Pitaya]

Not at all. Just that being a starter in itself is not a measure of ability. It's a matter of fact.

Fair enough

I suppose I could have clarified past the literal term of ‘starter’

If I asked how you think he is, what would you say?

 

[JoVel]

Yes but for goaltenders (and for NHL stat-keeping and standings), overtime/shootout losses are much better than a regulation loss.

26-22-7 is accurate while Id say 26-29 is deceptive.

I call 26-22-7 a positive record

Wins/losses don't tell anything about goalies, especially for those playing in New Jersey. 26-22-7 is not that bad when you consider the team.

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

MacKenzie has 55 games started in the last two seasons - overall record of 26-22-7 with a .911 sv% and a 2.80 GAA

While his stats arent necessarily impressive by themselves - lets remember he just turned 23 and plays for the New Jersey Devils, the 3rd worst team in the league when you include record over the last season and a half.

MacKenzie is athletically gifted, has great vision, and a very quick glove. He has maintained a positive record behind a BAD team and even has four shutouts to show.

Ive seen talk about guys like Carter Hart and Thatcher Demko - but I dont see a lot about my boy Blackwood.

Is it about time he gets some love?

He's showed a lot of improvement.....Whether or not he will be a true shut down no 1 goalie remains to be seen but the arrow is definitely pointing up....but they need to keep taking one every draft if they can draft one they like in later rounds.....they ignored it too long with Schneider there..

 

[Kamiccolo]

I think the Devils have a good one in Blackwood. Not sure if I am ready to project him as a top starter, but I don't think if the rest of the team is upgraded he would be a detriment on a playoff run. That to me is a starter.

 

[Comparison Ford]

just about the best thing to happen to the devils this year. hes the starting goalie of now and the future

 

[El Travo]

It depends on what you consider a starting goalie. Does he play a starting role on an NHL team? Yes? Then he's technically a starting goalie. Is he a goalie that a good team (imagine they lose their goalie for an entire year for some reason) would look at and think "he's a guy we want starting the majority of our games"? No? Then he's not a starter based off skill.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

He is very inconsistent but the current Devils situation with regards to coaching and D in front of him are a large contributing factor about the inconsistent play.

I still wouldn't yet lock him in as a bonafide starter yet. I know that he is performing this role and doing a good job considering his youth, but he is kind of no. 1 only by default because Schneider fell off a cliff with his injuries and Domingue is not a great alternative. I would want to see him put up another season as a no. 1 and improve his stats, before I would call him a bonafide NHL starter.

Devils will be looking for another goaltender in the offseason. It will be interesting to see what direction they go, if they go all out and get an established no. 1 like Lehner or opt for a veteran backup who could perhaps split starts like Greiss.

It is probably the latter (Greiss option) because if they sign a Lehner type goalie who wants to be a no. 1, then that would result in Blackwood potentially left exposed in expansion draft.

 

[Pitaya]

He is very inconsistent but the current Devils situation with regards to coaching and D in front of him are a large contributing factor about the inconsistent play.

I still wouldn't yet lock him in as a bonafide starter yet. I know that he is performing this role and doing a good job considering his youth, but he is kind of no. 1 only by default because Schneider fell off a cliff with his injuries and Domingue is not a great alternative. I would want to see him put up another season as a no. 1 and improve his stats, before I would call him a bonafide NHL starter.

Devils will be looking for another goaltender in the offseason. It will be interesting to see what direction they go, if they go all out and get an established no. 1 like Lehner or opt for a veteran backup who could perhaps split starts like Greiss.

It is probably the latter (Greiss option) because if they sign a Lehner type goalie who wants to be a no. 1, then that would result in Blackwood potentially left exposed in expansion draft.

Im curious if you mean inconsistent as it his statistics or his actual play?

Because I see him as very consistent, especially for a 23 year old in his actual play. When he is making a mistake its usually not a bunch at once. He rebounds well.

I get statistically though he is very inconsistent - id blame the team for a lot of that.

 

[BlueBaron]

Not sure about this topic. Is he a starter? Sure. Where does he rank out of 31 starters though? Probably not high. He has tons of upside still though and will move up that list over time.

 

[Ctrain2k]

Didn’t we just go through this with Keith Kinkaid a few years ago?

 

[Jumptheshark]

He is the starter for his team

 

[The Kessel Run]

He's got that prototypical 6'4" frame and moves well in his crease. I never thought he'd make it as a starter, but he keeps getting better!

 

[BrockLobster]

Hes not terrible. But just another goaltender

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Im curious if you mean inconsistent as it his statistics or his actual play?

Because I see him as very consistent, especially for a 23 year old in his actual play. When he is making a mistake its usually not a bunch at once. He rebounds well.

I get statistically though he is very inconsistent - id blame the team for a lot of that.

Actual play. Which then causes his statistics to look bad. Again not completely blaming him due to the team in front of him.

He probably averages 2-3 quality starts in a row before having a bad 3rd/4th start. He'll get consistency when he starts stringing multiple quality starts in a row. His month of December was very good. More of that needed.