Before last year NJ was not exactly putting a quality defense in front of him, by some metrics one of the worst defenses in the league. They turned that around last year but Blackwood was already tainted.
He hasn't has an above average S% in three years. You don't give that kind of player $2.2 million.
Fans criticised the hell of out Grier for giving Benning and Sturm $ and term last season. Now theyre constant trade targets for excellent play, value and term. Blackwood is 26, plenty of time to figure it out and turn it around. Goalies are extremely mercurial. Hill was not a starter last year, many thought he was AHL bound. Now he’s a Conn Smythe finalist and cup winner. Thats goalies for you.
This doesn’t hurt SJ one way or another. We are rebuilding. He could be a stop gap, he could be a revelation. Lets see.