Mackenzie Blackwood Moved To Injured Reserve

The New Jersey Devils have moved impressive young goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to injured reserve, retroactive to January 2nd. Kevin Rooney has been recalled to take the roster spot, but Blackwood will be eligible to return on Saturday if fully healthy.

That means that the Devils will be going with Keith Kinkaid again tonight as they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs, a tough ask of any goaltender this season. Kinkaid has struggled since getting back into the net last week, recording an .870 save percentage since Blackwood’s injury. That injury happened last Friday against the Arizona Coyotes, and though it is not considered serious is a tough break for such a young and promising career.

Blackwood, 22, was originally selected in the second round of the 2015 draft as the second goalie off the board. His NHL career got off to a shaky start against those very same Maple Leafs when he allowed two goals on ten shots in a relief effort in mid-December. Since then though the goaltender has been almost unbeatable, stopping 190 of 199 shots and recording two shutouts. With Cory Schneider’s future unclear due to injury and inconsistency, Blackwood looks just about ready to take over for the Devils full-time.

Kinkaid meanwhile is a pending free agent who is playing for his NHL future, something that seems far less certain after his recent struggles. The backup goaltender has had the opportunity to steal the starting job in New Jersey over the past few seasons, but will probably have to look for a new home this summer if Schneider can find any semblance of health. A strong run in any opportunity he does get will go a long way to landing Kinkaid that next gig, whether in New Jersey or elsewhere.