Mackenzie Blackwood has emerged as one of the top goaltenders in the NHL.
The 28-year-old earned that respect from NHL insider and former goaltender Kevin Weekes, who praised him Monday on NHL Tonight.
Advertisement
Blackwood was selected 42nd overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils, where he spent four seasons. His standout campaign came during the shortened 2019–20 season, posting a 22-14-8 record with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. On the show, Weekes elaborated on why he has long admired Blackwood’s game.
“I think Mackenzie Blackwood going back to his time in (Juniors) always had the goods,” he stated. “He has the size; he has the skillset. I liked him a lot when he was with the Devils (Weekes’ former team), but he was a young goalie…but he’s really found his footing since going out West.”
On June 27, 2023, as a pending restricted free agent, Blackwood was traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2023 sixth-round draft pick. He promptly signed a two-year contract with San Jose. Blackwood made his Sharks debut early in the 2023–24 season on October 14, recording 51 saves in a 2–1 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche—ironically, the team that would acquire him the following season.
That move, however, is what Weekes said allowed Blackwood to truly hone his skills and demonstrate that he has what it takes to perform under pressure.
Advertisement
“And first going to San Jose and proving he can play under duress and then coming to Colorado, he’s been fantastic,” Weekes continued.
“But (against the Philadelphia Flyers) specifically and (the New York Rangers), he was absolutely outstanding. But again, keep in mind, the fact that just up the street from here, he played in New Jersey. He’s familiar with these buildings, so maybe that had something to do with it.”
The start of the season did not unfold as Blackwood had hoped. He underwent offseason surgery to address a persistent lower-body injury, and his recovery progressed more slowly than anticipated. Having missed both training camp and the preseason, he only began taking reps once the regular season commenced, leaving it evident that he still had significant ground to make up.
Advertisement
After a somewhat shaky start, Blackwood has not only regained his footing but appears to be performing at the peak of his career. He currently holds an 8-1-1 record, boasting a career-low 2.21 goals-against average and a career-high .920 save percentage. While some might attribute his success to playing on a strong team, that perspective overlooks his individual contributions—most notably on Sunday, when the Avalanche defeated the Flyers 3-2 and Blackwood made several critical saves to preserve the one-goal margin. He deserves all of the credit.
“I think he’s become a really complete goalie,” Weekes said. “I’m a big fan of his. What I would also say about Mackenzie Blackwood is like a lot of young people and young goalie players, he’s matured a lot, too.
“He knows Colorado is an elite team, but to me, the way he played…he played back-to-back. And I love that he played back-to-back because it’s kind of a rare thing nowadays, but I love seeing it, so good on him for the back-to-back performances.”
Advertisement
Blackwood recorded 25 saves against the Rangers on Saturday, helping secure a 3-2 overtime victory capped by Nathan MacKinnon’s deft backhand that eluded Igor Shesterkin. The following day, he added 23 more saves—including several highlight-reel stops—to propel the Avalanche to a second 3-2 triumph, this time in regulation.
Image
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
