The next steps of Mackenzie Blackwood's NHL career appear likely to be taken on the west coast.
The New Jersey Devils traded Blackwood, the 26-year-old goalie from Thunder Bay, to the San Jose Sharks for a sixth-round draft pick this week.
Blackwood played in 22 games for New Jersey last year, sporting a 10-6-2 record with a 3.20 goals against average and a .897 save percentage. He didn't appear in any of New Jersey's playoff contests, as the Devils advanced to the second round before being eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes.
He told The Hockey News last month that he battled injuries this past season, and wanted "to go where the opportunity is" as he became a restricted free agent.
Blackwood was selected by the Devils in the second round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
Through five NHL seasons, Blackwood has appeared in 152 games, picking up 67 wins and eight shutouts.
