Mackenzie Blackwood: A Star in the Making

Mackenzie Blackwood is a young Canadian ice hockey goaltender who plays for the New Jersey Devils in the National Hockey League (NHL). He quickly rose through the ranks after being drafted 42nd overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Devils in July of 2016.

Blackwood made his NHL debut with the Devils in the 2017-18 season and played 12 games, posting a 6-4-0 record, a 2.77 goals-against average (GAA), and a .918 save percentage (SV%). He split the next season between the Devils and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Binghamton Devils, due to a lower-body injury.

During the 2019-20 season, Blackwood blossomed into one of the most promising young goaltenders in the NHL. He played 50 games and posted a 22-14-8 record, a 2.77 GAA, and a .915 SV%. He also earned his first NHL shutout in a 3-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens on December 31, 2019.

Blackwood's Strengths and Weaknesses

One of Blackwood's strengths is his athleticism. He is a big goalie with great reflexes and agility, which allows him to make saves all over the ice. He is also a very good puck-handler and can help his team out by playing the puck behind the net and starting the breakout.

Blackwood's biggest weakness is his consistency. He can sometimes have trouble controlling rebounds and can be prone to giving up soft goals. He also needs to improve his positioning and decision-making in the net.

Blackwood's Future

Blackwood has the potential to be one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. He is still young and has a lot of room to improve, but he has shown that he has the skills and the mentality to be a star. If he can continue to develop and improve, he could lead the Devils to a Stanley Cup championship in the future.

Personal Reflections

As a hockey fan, I have been following Blackwood's career closely since he was drafted by the Devils. I am impressed with his talent and potential, and I believe he has the tools to be a special player in the NHL. I am excited to see what the future holds for Blackwood and the Devils.