Mackenzie Blackwood
A towering, athletic goaltender whose blend of size and reflexes has made him a formidable presence in the NHL crease.
Born 1996 (age 30)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: December 9·Millennials
Biography
Mackenzie Blackwood's path to the NHL was marked by anticipation, as scouts pegged him as the top North American goaltending prospect in his draft year. The New Jersey Devils selected him in the second round, betting on his 6-foot-4 frame and calm demeanor. His rookie season in 2018-19 was a revelation; he posted a .918 save percentage and looked instantly comfortable, suggesting a franchise cornerstone. His career, however, has been a narrative of battling inconsistency and injury, challenges that have tested his mental fortitude. A trade to the San Jose Sharks in 2023 offered a fresh start, and a subsequent move to the Colorado Avalanche placed him in a winning environment. Through the ups and downs, Blackwood's raw talent—the ability to make spectacular, game-stealing saves—has never been in doubt, keeping him in the conversation as a netminder with starting potential.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Mackenzie was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mackenzie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Mackenzie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished 6th in voting for the Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year) in 2019 after posting a .918 save percentage in 23 games for New Jersey.
- Was named the top North American goaltender prospect in the NHL Central Scouting final rankings for the 2015 draft.
- Recorded his first NHL shutout in just his third career start, stopping all 37 shots against the Carolina Hurricanes in 2019.
Did You Know?
He is of Ojibwe descent and has spoken about the importance of his Indigenous heritage.
Blackwood played junior hockey for the Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
He wears jersey number 29, which he also wore during his time with the Barrie Colts.
“My job is to be the calmest person in the building when the pressure is highest.”
