Chicago Blackhawks goaltender’s career year offers optimism for the future

The Chicago Blackhawks have struggled to find a long-term option in net since Corey Crawford left the team after the 2020 season. Crawford helped Chicago win two Stanley Cups and will forever go down as one of the more successful netminders in franchise history thanks to his efforts throughout the team’s dynasty run. Nearly five years after his departure, veteran Petr Mrazek has been the closest thing that the Blackhawks have had to a consistent presence in the cage during this massive rebuild.

General manager Kyle Davidson has added goaltenders through the draft over the past few seasons in attempt to give the Blackhawks a chance at catching lightning in a bottle with a guy who could be the anchor for their next Stanley Cup run. The two recent selections have been second-rounders in the 2023 and 2020 drafts.

Adam Gajan was taken in 2023 and is currently having a rough go at it in his first collegiate season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The 2020 pick was Drew Commesso who made his NHL debut earlier this season. Although his numbers in Rockford this year have been up and down, the front office remains hopeful that he can be a pivot piece of a goaltending tandem down the road.

An answer for the goalie position in Chicago might have been a piece that has been with the team all along. A guy who wasn’t supposed to see any NHL action this year unless an injury came about has been impressive and could have a spot with the Blackhawks for much longer than originally anticipated.

Arvid Soderblom is turning heads for the Chicago Blackhawks

Arvid Soderblom had a brutal 2023-2024 season. The undrafted free agent finished the season with a 3.92 GAA mark and a .879 save percentage in 32 games played. Because of these numbers, the front office went out and signed Laurent Brossoit in free agency from the Winnipeg Jets.

Brossoit has yet to play in a game for Chicago yet due to needing multiple surgeries, which placed Soderblom onto the opening night roster. This is exactly what the Blackhawks were looking to avoid, as Soderblom getting time in the AHL to refine his game appeared to be what was best for his future.

Despite a rocky start, Soderblom has turned things around as of late and is putting together the best season of his young NHL career. He already has two more wins this year than he had all of last season, and his GAA mark is better than it has ever been. Soderblom has a 2.89 GAA mark with a .909 save percentage in 23 games played. The 25-year-old has been in the cage for the two biggest road wins of the season, one of which was on Tuesday against the Lightning.

The future could now have Arvid Soderblom in the fold

With the circumstances of Chicago struggling mightily this season, Soderblom’s turnaround has been a fun bright spot. If he is having success with the product on the ice, his game could be taken to a whole new level when the entire defensive core is locked in at the NHL level.

With the tandem of Mrazek and Soderblom competing relatively well right no, it makes things difficult for Davidson and his staff when Brossoit is finally ready to get back into action. Having trouble picking which goaltenders to keep is a good issue to have, and it’s one that the Blackhawks haven’t had to deal with in quite some time.

If Commesso of Gajan can develop into something special, a tandem of them with Soderblom could be in the cards for Chicago when they are looking to make a deep playoff run in the coming years.