We have just learned that a number one goalie is being placed on the trade market: Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have inquired
Kent Hughes didn't hesitate to mention it last week during his media tour: the Montreal Canadiens don't have a number one goaltender in the organization right now to take over. (except for Carey Price, of course)
Hughes did mention that there are several promising names, but none of them have proven to be a reliable number one goalie in the long run.
According to many sources, and even if you read between the lines of Kent Hughes' speech, you can expect Montreal to inquire about a number one goalie this summer (they already have, by the way).
Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton could be back in the mix, trying to acquire an Ilya Samsonov. However, there is another similar goalie that is now available on the trade market.
According to several sources, the New Jersey Devils would like to acquire another number 1 goalie this summer and it would possibly be the end of Mackenzie Blackwood there.
There would be a conflict between the young promising goalie and his head coach.
At one point, Blackwood was considered one of the top three young goalies in the NHL, in the category of a Samsonov or an Igor Shesterkin.
However, the 25-year-old goalie had a miserable season, due to numerous injuries and the COVID-19.
In fact, here is his injury record:
This season in 25 games, Blackwood has maintained a 3.39 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage. He earns $2.8M per year through the end of the 2022-2023 season.
However, he was dominant last season as well as the season before. He is big and he is young.
If you are a GM of an NHL team, if you are Kent Hughes, do you take a chance on him?
| POLL | ||
Would you like the CH to acquire MacKenzie Blackwood? | ||
| Yes | 108 | 39.1 % |
| No | 168 | 60.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
