Insider reveals that the Devils no longer high on Blackwood; he could be a fit for the Leafs, but there are risks
Just a couple short weeks back, a report surfaced that the New Jersey Devils are expected to make a push for pending UFA goaltender Jack Campbell if the Leafs are unable to come to terms with the 30-year-old on an extension. A report on Saturday from Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli sheds some light on why the Devils might be in the market for a goalie this summer.
Per Seravalli, the Devils have soured on current number 1 goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood after 3 consecutive seasons on a downward slide. Over that span, the Devils have watched Blackwood's sv% plummet from a .918 in 2018-19 to a .915, .902 and .892 from 2019-2022.
Beyond his struggles on the ice, Blackwood has also had a tough time staying healthy of late, suiting up in just 25 games in 2021-22. His 3.39 GAA when he was healthy did not do him any favours with upper management either.
Blackwood could make an interesting target for the Leafs this summer if he is available. The 25-year-old is in the final year of a 3-year deal that carries a $2.8M cap hit and definitely fits the mold of what Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said he might be looking for. Blackwood seems like a prime candidate to become a bit of a reclamation project and given the fact that he'll be an RFA when his current deal expires, he'll be under team control beyond this season.
The problem here is that, while Blackwood's AAV is just $2.8M, his actual salary this season is $4.125M, meaning that his qualifying offer next summer may be much more than what the Leafs would be willing to pay him. Then there's the concern of a possible lofty arbitration award if the two sides end up heading to arbitration.
A move for Blackwood, while it may seem like a no-brainer to some, is certainly not without its risks. If the Devils would consider allowing the Leafs to speak with the Blackwood camp and perhaps allow them to put together the framework of a potential contract extension prior to completing the trade, the move would make a little more sense. However, if the Leafs do use some of their assets in a deal to acquire Blackwood, there is a very real chance that he is moved again next summer or is left unqualified if his demands exceed his value. In that case, the Leafs would be right back to square one.
