The Sharks have placed goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury. Magnus Chrona was called up from AHL San Jose in a corresponding move to give starter Kaapo Kahkonen his backup for the next few games.
Blackwood will not be available for the Sharks’ weekend back-to-back against the Wild and Stars. He can be activated before Tuesday’s game against Dallas at the earliest, although it’s unclear how much time he’ll miss. He left Tuesday’s loss to the Devils in the first period after catching a shot in the midsection (video link).
In his first season with the Sharks, Blackwood has posted a 9-18-3 record with one shutout over 32 starts and three relief appearances, recording a .899 SV%. It’s been a nice bounce back season for the 27-year-old, who signed a two-year, $4.7M deal with the Sharks last summer after they acquired his signing rights from the Devils for a 2023 sixth-round pick.
The 2015 second-round pick has saved 2.6 goals above expected in all situations, per MoneyPuck, his first season in the black since he finished sixth in Calder voting with New Jersey in 2019-20. He’s done so while facing 34.5 shots per 60 minutes, the most of any starter in the league.
Despite starting eight fewer games, Kahkonen has put up slightly better numbers with a .901 SV% and 4.1 goals saved above expected in 28 appearances. Slated for UFA status this summer and carrying a reasonable $2.75M cap hit, he could be on the move at the deadline as an attractive option for teams looking for affordable goalie help. If Blackwood misses extended time past his minimum seven-day IR stint, however, that could dissuade the Sharks from moving Kahkonen unless they can get an NHL-capable goalie to carry them down the stretch.
The 23-year-old Chrona has struggled in his limited NHL minutes this season, conceding eight goals on just 29 shots across one start and one relief appearance. While still a promising prospect, he’s not ready for the major league level, and the Sharks would prefer to keep him in the AHL as much as possible.
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