Mackenzie Blackwood

Blackwood was never able to unseat Vitek Vanecek as the Devils' starter in 2022-23, and Akira Schmid was much better as the backup. The Devils opted to move on from Blackwood, who was traded to the Sharks and subsequently signed a two-year deal to bolster their goaltending situation. Going from a team on the rise to a team in the depths of a rebuild is not great for a goalie that hasn't been a positive factor in three years. Blackwood went 10-6-2 with a 3.20 GAA and an .893 save percentage last season, and he'll be competing for starts with Kaapo Kahkonen to begin 2023-24. Until a winner in that playing-time battle emerges, fantasy managers would be better off avoiding San Jose goalies altogether.

Blackwood was banged up for almost all of the 2021-22 campaign, ultimately playing just 25 games for New Jersey. His play when healthy - a 9-10-4 record, a 3.39 GAA and an .892 save percentage -- was not good. Blackwood won't turn 26 until December, but the Devils were concerned enough about what took place a season ago to acquire Vitek Vanecek from Washington and immediately ink him to a three-year, $10.2 millon contract in July. Due to that financial commitment, Vanecek should be considered the favorite to open the 2022-23 season as New Jersey's starter, leaving Blackwood in a tough spot, and fantasy managers in a wait-and-see mode.

The 2020-21 season was very much a rebuilding campaign for the Devils, and Blackwood's performance reflected that reality. The 24-year-old netminder, beset by various bouts of illness and injury, posted a meager 3.04 GAA and .902 save percentage behind a 14-17-4 record in 35 starts - a significant regression from his sophomore season. Despite the struggles, the future looks bright for the 45th overall selection from the 2015 NHL Entry Draft as the Devils look poised to get more out of young stars Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier in 2021-22. Reinforced with the marquee addition of Dougie Hamilton on the blue line, Blackwood should garner a significant workload in his fourth year. Blackwood has some sleeper potential in the latter rounds of fantasy drafts for those willing to take a chance that he and the Devils are on the right track.

Prior to the opening of free agency, Blackwood was the presumptive No. 1 netminder for the Devils after posting a 22-14-8 record with a 2.77 GAA and three shutouts in 47 outings last year. However, the addition of free agent Corey Crawford brings the youngster's role into doubt, as he will now have to earn the starting gig during training camp. Still, the injury woes for Crawford and the prospect of a condensed schedule could create opportunities for Blackwood to see close to 40 starts in 2020-21. Even if he's named the starter, the Devils are still rebuilding and don't project to be significantly better in 2020-21, which could result in Blackwood struggling to match last season's win total or .910 save percentage mark.

Blackwood showed a lot of promise as a rookie while Cory Schneider battled injuries and ineffectiveness, finishing with 10 wins, a 2.61 GAA and .918 save percentage in 23 appearances. Schneider's healthy and will get first crack at the starting job, but Blackwood will by lying in wait should the veteran falter and has a better chance to climb the depth chart than most backups. If the Thunder Bay native manages to snag the No. 1 job, he could provide significant value on what figures to be a much-improved Devils team.