Brodeur: 'The future is bright' for Devils' Blackwood

MacKenzie Blackwood's play early in his career has impressed New Jersey Devils legend Martin Brodeur, one of the best goaltenders in NHL history.

"The future is bright for him. He's a big body. He plays really well," Brodeur said of Blackwood, according to The Hockey News' Matt Larkin. "If there's one thing he's gonna need to learn, it's to play the puck a little bit better, just be a little more assertive with it. He's got the skills to do it. It was just never his game, really.

"And at the NHL level, you need to be able to at least help your players and not be a problem back there as far as having the puck and controlling your rebounds and all that."

Brodeur, who backstopped the Devils from 1993 until 2014 while winning three Stanley Cups and four Vezina Trophies, currently serves as the team's executive vice-president of hockey operations and senior advisor.

The 23-year-old Blackwood just completed his first season in the NHL as a starting goaltender. He put together an impressive 22-14-8 record alongside a .915 save percentage and 2.77 goals-against average while playing behind a middling Devils squad.

Brodeur added that although he liked what he saw from Blackwood on the ice, the Hall of Famer also learned the young goalie possesses the mindset to succeed in the NHL.

"But we've learned a lot about him, what type of player he is, what type of person he is. The players love to play for him, so that's a good sign," Brodeur said. "He works really hard, and that, for a goalie, is a good thing."

Blackwood, who will hit free agency following the 2019-20 season, expressed interest in re-signing long term with the Devils.

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