According to nhl.com on Tuesday, the New Jersey Devils traded goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood of Thunder Bay, Ontario to the San Jose Sharks for a sixth round pick in the 2023 National Hockey League Entry Draft. The draft pick will be the 164th selection in the 2023 National Hockey League Entry Draft which takes place Wednesday in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Sharks will be the second National Hockey League team that Blackwood has played for in his NHL career. He was with the Devils for five seasons from 2018 to 2023.
In 2022-23, Blackwood had a record of 10 wins, six regulation losses and two losses in extra time. He had a goals against average of 3.20 and a save percentage of .893. Over 152 games with New Jersey, Blackwood had a record of 65 wins, 57 regulation losses, and 18 losses in extra time, with eight shutouts, a goals against average of 2.97, and a save percentage of .906.
Blackwood was one of three Devils goaltenders in 2022-23. He played alongside Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid. However, he became expendable when Schmid had an excellent Stanley Cup Playoff series for the Devils against the New York Rangers.
The Sharks meanwhile were in the market for a goaltender with James Reimer of Arborg, Manitoba being an unrestricted free agent. Blackwood is expected to share duties with Kaapo Kahkonen.
