- Mackenzie Blackwood has been diagnosed with an MCL sprain, and will meet with doctors tomorrow for further evaluation according to New Jersey Devils team reporter Amanda Stein. Blackwood left a game against the Edmonton Oilers on November 3, leaving the Devils with Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid as their tandem for the time being.
Devils Rumors
Mackenzie Blackwood Will See Doctors In New Jersey On Tuesday
- As relayed by New Jersey Devils team reporter Amanda Stein, head coach Lindy Ruff says that goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood will be seen by doctors back in New Jersey on Tuesday. Blackwood, who was injured in New Jersey’s 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night, had met with doctors in Calgary yesterday ahead of the team’s game against the Flames this evening. In response to the injury, but without wanting to place Blackwood on IR, at least not yet, the Devils recalled goaltender Akira Schmid from the AHL earlier today, sending down winger Andreas Johnsson. The Devils return home after tonight’s game and will next play at home Tuesday evening against these same Calgary Flames.
Devils Recall Akira Schmid, Send Andreas Johnsson To AHL
With Mackenzie Blackwood suffering a lower-body injury while stretching across to make a stop against Edmonton on Thursday, the Devils needed a second goaltender. That second netminder will be Akira Schmid as the team announced today (Twitter link) that he has been recalled from AHL Utica. To make room for him on the roster, winger Andreas Johnsson has been sent down to the Comets.
The 22-year-old Schmid has played in four games so far this season with Utica, posting a 1.97 GAA along with a .918 SV%, numbers that are considerably better than the ones that Nico Daws has put up so far which helped Schmid earn the nod. He does have a bit of NHL experience having played in six games with the Devils last season but he struggled in those appearances to the tune of a 4.83 GAA and a save percentage of just .833. Vitek Vanecek will likely get the bulk of the workload until Blackwood is able to return and no timeline has been provided on that front yet.
As for Johnsson, the 27-year-old actually had the second-best year of his career last season with New Jersey, collecting 13 goals and 22 points in 71 games. However, with a $3.4MM AAV and a tenuous hold on a roster spot, the Devils correctly predicted that he’d pass through waivers unclaimed last month, allowing him to be shuffled back and forth as roster needs warrant. He hasn’t played with the Devils this season and has six points in four games with the Comets so far.
Latest On Mackenzie Blackwood
- The New Jersey Devils are the NHL’s hottest team at the moment, but goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood has not been one of the team’s bright spots. Blackwood has an .880 save percentage this year, and it appears he now has to face another issue beyond just his performance. Devils coach Lindy Ruff said, as relayed by Devils team reporter Amanda Stein, that Blackwood is “meeting with doctors” in Calgary today. Blackwood left his last game in discomfort, and this could be a signal that he might miss some time.
Ondrej Palat Undergoes Surgery
The New Jersey Devils will be without their big offseason signing for the foreseeable future, announcing today that Ondrej Palat has undergone successful groin surgery. Palat is expected to make a full recovery, but his recovery timeline has yet to be determined.
It’s tough news for the Devils, who after a brutal start have started to turn into a contender in the Metropolitan Division. Palat had been part of that, with three goals in his first six games with New Jersey, but so has Fabian Zetterlund, who has been given a bigger opportunity with the veteran sidelined.
Hopefully, Palat will be able to return at some point and bring his Stanley Cup experience to the table once again. The scariest part of any free agent contract is usually the fact that it’s going to an older player, and the five-year $30MM deal for Palat is no different.
He has dealt with plenty of injury issues in the past, failing to play in 80 games since his rookie season. Still, the Devils got him more for his postseason experience than anything else, so perhaps he’ll still be able to make the impact they hoped for down the road.
For now, the young group will have to look elsewhere for their veteran presence.
Jonathan Bernier "Progressing" From Hip Injury
The New Jersey Devils have rocketed to the top of the Metropolitan Division standings to start the season, largely in part due to the team’s suffocating possession game. Goaltending has remained a concern for the team to start the year, but they could get a potential third option back somewhat soon. Head coach Lindy Ruff noted to reporters today, including Devils reporter and content creator Amanda Stein, that Jonathan Bernier is “progressing” from a hip injury suffered over 10 months ago.
New Jersey Devils Place Ondrej Palat On IR, Recall Andreas Johnsson
The New Jersey Devils have placed forward Ondrej Palat on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, retroactive to October 24, according to the team. In a corresponding transaction, the team also recalled forward Andreas Johnsson from the AHL’s Utica Comets.
While Palat would theoretically be available to return as soon as Monday due to the retroactive placement, it doesn’t sound like that’s the case. The team said in their statement that Palat continues to meet with doctors and that a “final determination… as to the next course of action” will be made on Monday.
Palat has not skated since suffering the injury on Monday against the Washington Capitals. He had three goals and no assists in six games at the time of the injury.
Johnsson, on the other hand, has not played an NHL game yet this season after clearing waivers a few weeks back. In four games in Utica, though, he’s blown away the competition with a goal and five assists. As Johnsson enters the final year of a contract paying him $3.4MM per year, some NHL games in Palat’s absence could help repair his value and help him continue his NHL career past this season. The 27-year-old had 35 points in 71 games with the Devils last season.
Latest On Mackenzie Blackwood, Ondrej Palat
- New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood is out with a day-to-day injury and could return as soon as tomorrow, reports Amanda Stein of the Devils’ team website. While this injury appears to be a minor one, it’s worth noting considering the larger situation Blackwood finds himself in. A pending arbitration-eligible restricted free agent, Blackwood is looking to rebound after an injury-plagued 2021-22 campaign that saw him post an .892 save percentage in 25 games. Staying healthy could be the key to him having that rebound season, so hopefully he’ll find his way back into the lineup quickly.
- In another injury update concerning the Devils, forward Ondrej Palat is “continuing to be evaluated” for a lower-body injury, per Devils head coach Lindy Ruff. According to Ruff, an update on that injury should come in the “next few days.” Palat was the team’s major free agent signing this past summer and has three goals in six games so far this season.
Ondrej Palat Out With Lower-Body Injury
The New Jersey Devils will be without forward Ondrej Palat tonight as they look to avenge their home-opener loss to the Detroit Red Wings, according to the team. The team noted Palat has a lower-body injury and did not list a timeline.
Lindy Ruff Reportedly On The Early-Season Hot Seat
In today’s edition of their 32 Thoughts Podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek name New Jersey Devils head coach Lindy Ruff as being one of the early names on the hot seat to start the year. The Devils have dropped both their opening games to the Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings.
Although they’ve played well overall in both outings, they’ve gotten just a .804 save percentage from Vitek Vanecek and Mackenzie Blackwood, goaltending that doesn’t exactly permit you to win many games. Firing Ruff may not fix that, but some of his usage decisions have admittedly been puzzling as well. Forward Jesper Bratt, who has three points in those two games and has been extremely strong analytically to start the year, ranks sixth among Devils forwards in average ice time to start the year, behind players like Ondrej Palat, who has a -5 rating and is pointless through two games.