Devils Exploring Goaltending Options
Goaltending has been a position that has been in some flux for the Devils recently. The team struggled mightily between the pipes last season in large part due to injuries. Things were looking good early on this season but Mackenzie Blackwood is now hurt, Jonathan Bernier is still a long way from potentially returning, and Vitek Vanecek left Thursday’s game with an injury as well. Speaking with Ryan Novozinsky of the Newark Star-Ledger prior to that contest, GM Tom Fitzgerald indicated that they’re open to making a move when it comes to the goalie front.
We’ll explore anything and everything. If it makes sense to keep us from overworking certain goalies or if we prefer to keep our guys in AHL.
The good news for the Devils is that Vanecek made a brief appearance at practice Friday which bodes well for his short-term availability. But in the meantime, Akira Schmid finished up Thursday’s contest (picking up his first career victory) and is the short-term starter until Vanecek is cleared to come back. Blackwood is going to miss another three-to-six weeks with his MCL injury while there is no timeline for if or when Bernier might return as he works his way back from hip issues. Accordingly, if Fitzgerald wants Schmid back in the minors, he may have to look for another goalie.
The uncertainty with Bernier makes that idea a lot easier said than done. If they knew that the 34-year-old wouldn’t be back, they could comfortably spend most of his $4.25MM AAV which would give them ample space to add a capable veteran second netminder. However, since it’s possible he returns, they can’t really do that as they’ll need to be cap-compliant if Bernier is able to come off LTIR and suit up.
Accordingly, it’s possible that Fitzgerald turns to the approach he used last season and looks for a veteran depth option to serve as the backup, a move he made twice in 2021-22 when he added Jon Gillies and Andrew Hammond in separate swaps. Such a swap shouldn’t cost a lot in terms of acquisition cost and would involve a player that could be waived and come off the cap entirely, presenting no risk if Bernier is able to return. With that in mind, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Devils make a small move to add a little more goaltending insurance over the next little while.
New Jersey Devils Extend Martin Brodeur
The New Jersey Devils are keeping around a franchise icon for a while longer. The team has signed a multi-year extension with Martin Brodeur to serve as vice president, hockey operations. Brodeur had previously been splitting time between hockey ops and the business side of the organization but will now solely focus on the former alongside general manager Tom Fitzgerald. The goaltending legend released the following:
Working with Tom’s group for the past few years, I have seen firsthand what he and our Managing Partners, David Blitzer and Josh Harris are building. I’ve been fortunate to help them in that time, as we move in the right direction toward consistent, sustained success. This decision allows me to commit all my time to the hockey side and focus on achieving the ultimate goal for our players, tremendous fans and entire organization.
There’s no point in listing off Brodeur’s achievements as a player, given how ubiquitous he is with the goaltending position, but some may have overlooked just how much front office experience he has gained since retiring in 2015. He quickly moved into an assistant general manager position with the St. Louis Blues after hanging up his pads, and even served as the team’s goaltending coach for a short period. Hockey Canada then pegged him as AGM for the Karjala and Spengler Cups, before handing him the GM job at the World Championships.
In 2018, he returned to the Devils and has served in various different roles ever since, including helping hockey operations. Now, as he moves fully into that world, it seems likely that he will remain at the head of the team. Whether he ever becomes a true general manager, or skips that step entirely – think Brendan Shanahan in Toronto – Brodeur has the experience and status to be an executive in the league for a long time.
New Jersey Devils Provide Injury Updates
It’s not great news for New Jersey Devils fans, even if the team is doing well at the moment. Mackenzie Blackwood will be out for three to six weeks with the MCL sprain he recently suffered and, according to team reporter Amanda Stein, Ondrej Palat will miss eight to ten weeks following groin surgery.
While head coach Lindy Ruff did joke that Palat would disagree with that timeline, it’s still a long period to be without your top free agent signing. Palat was supposed to come in and show the Devils how to play like champions and will now miss more than two months with a serious injury. The 31-year-old signed a five-year, $30MM contract with the Devils and makes a whopping $8.25MM this season. He scored three goals before going down.
Luckily the Devils are one of the hottest teams in the league right now, on a six-game winning streak and now 9-1 in their last ten. After a shaky start they have been getting outstanding goaltending, something that will now have to continue with Vitek Vanecek carrying the load. Akira Schmid is up as well to fill in for the absent Blackwood, but Devils fans won’t want to go down that road again.
Because of injuries, New Jersey was forced to ice seven different netminders last season, with Nico Daws actually tying Blackwood for the most appearances. With so much turnover no one was able to perform very well and the team had an .886 save percentage overall. It is vital that Vanecek, who has a .940 over his last five starts (all wins), stays healthy for the next stretch or things could quickly derail for the Metropolitan-leading club.
Mackenzie Blackwood Dealing With MCL Sprain
- 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.
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.