The New Jersey Devils have signed goalie Mackenzie Blackwood to a three-year entry-level contract, the club announced today.
Blackwood, 19, is currently the starting goalie for Canada at the World Juniors. He was suspended for the first two games of the tournament, due to a stick-swinging incident while playing for his junior club, the OHL’s Barrie Colts.
Blackwood was selected 42nd overall by the Devils in 2015. He was the second goalie taken in the draft, after Washington chose Ilya Samsonov 22nd overall.
With Cory Schneider, 29, under contract through 2021-22, it’ll be interesting to see how the Devils bring Blackwood along. Whether he eventually supplants Schneider, or his long-term future is with another organization, remains to be seen.
Of course, no decision will have to be made anytime soon. Blackwood has yet to play a game at any professional level.