Devils draft Thunder Bay goalie Mackenzie Blackwood

Twenty-five years after the New Jersey Devils turned the fortunes of a sad-sack NHL franchise around by drafting Martin Brodeur with their top pick, the team has reached high for another goaltender.

The Devils on Saturday snagged Thunder Bay netminder Mackenzie Blackwood in the second round, the 42nd player off the board in the annual NHL draft.

Blackwood, who didn't start playing goal until he was 12, told the NHL Network it was a relief to finally find out where his hockey future lies.

"I was on the edge of my seat, curious as to when I would go," he said, moments after his name was called.

"It's just really, really exciting to be picked here and I feel so fortunate and blessed."

Earlier this week he was one of three goaltenders invited to Canada's national junior team summer development camp, and said he's well-versed in the Devils history between the pipes.

"It's an honour to be picked by them. I know they've got some pretty good goaltenders. It's nice to be picked by them and realize they have value in me as an organizations."

The No. 1 goalie with the Ontario Hockey League's Barrie Colts, Blackwood said he had no idea the Devils would call his name.

"I had some idea they were interested in me and had some need in me as a goalie, but I didn't know how much and how strong. Everyone tells you they're interested. So I really had no clue where I would go."

Blackwood was the top-ranked North American goaltender according to NHL Central Scouting, and was the second goalie off the board in the 2015 draft.

The Washington Capitals on Friday selected Russian Ilya Samsonov with the 22nd overall pick.

The 18-year-old Blackwood, a 6-foot-4 graduate of the Thunder Bay Kings, was fourth in the OHL with 33 wins, finishing with a 3.09 goals against average and a .906 save percentage. He was an OHL all-rookie team member in 2013-14, who compares his tame to Nashville's Pekka Rinne and Arizona's Mike Smith.

A potential first-rounder, Blackwood said the wait was tough.

"It was kind of stressful. You're kind of anxious overnight waiting to get picked. It's a relief it's over."