For many Blackhawks fans, the 2024-25 season is already practically in the books. The team is nowhere close to playoff contention, and many have shifted their focus to this summer’s draft, in which Chicago will almost certainly pick inside the top five.
While predicting the Blackhawks’ roster is tricky enough, the questions are even more difficult to answer between the pipes. Chicago currently employs three NHL-caliber goaltenders at a position where many teams don’t even have two, so changes are coming. But who’s the odd man out?
Prediction:
Arvid Soderblom
Laurent Brossoit
Petr Mrazek
Arguably the Blackhawks’ MVP last season, Mrazek hasn’t been quite the same player this year. As the calendar flipped to February, he saw his save percentage dip below .900, a drop from last year’s .908 mark. He’s now behind a better defense, too, and has had a few off nights.
In Mrazek’s defense, he started the season as what Chicago believed was the only competent goaltender – Arvid Soderblom hadn’t proven himself yet and Laurent Brossoit was obviously out with an injury. He started 10 of the Blackhawks’ first 12 games, and his stats dipped as a result. He’s a proven veteran netminder on a fairly reasonable contract (AAV of $4.25 million expiring after next season).
As a result, Mrazek is the most likely trade candidate of the three, and could certainly be dealt either at the trade deadline in March (depending on whether Brossoit ever gets healthy) or this summer. Playoff teams need reliable goaltending, and Mrazek would be a great choice. If Brossoit comes back anytime soon, Chicago would be looking to get anything it can for Mrazek in order to avoid carrying three goaltenders for the rest of the season.
Laurent Brossoit
Speaking of trades, the Blackhawks won’t be able to get rid of Brossoit because they haven’t seen him in action themselves. The latest update on the 31-year-old netminder was nearly a month ago, when GM Kyle Davidson said he’s “hopeful” that Brossoit will be able to return at some point this season. He’s been out for the entire year due to a lingering knee issue that has required multiple procedures.
When he’s healthy, Brossoit is considered one of the best backup goaltenders in hockey. Last season in Winnipeg, he played in 23 games and held opponents to two goals per game, posting a save percentage of .927. Unfortunately for Chicago, the team can’t trade him for anything of value, considering his injury history and uncertain timetable for return.
When Brossoit comes back, however, he should make it easy for the Blackhawks to slot him into the lineup every other night. I still think he’ll play a big role for the team next season, and will be a more-than-effective placeholder as the next generation of netminders prepares to come to Chicago.
Arvid Soderblom
No one saw it coming, but when you hear “the next generation of netminders” in Chicago, you now think of Arvid Soderblom. The 25-year-old was hung out to dry to start the season – the Blackhawks had Mrazek and Brossoit in the NHL and had already given the AHL starting job to Drew Commesso. It made sense for Chicago at the time, with Soderblom coming off of one of the worst seasons in the league a year ago. With Brossoit missing the start of the season, however, Soderblom was given an unexpected opportunity to spend time in the NHL and never looked back. He miraculously turned into a star and has a save percentage of .906 on the season, despite a recent stretch of tough games.
As the Blackhawks turn their attention to next season and beyond, Soderblom will be at the center of their plans. He’s set to hit restricted free agency as his contract expires this summer, but Chicago re-signing him is a matter of when, not if. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Blackhawks give him around a two-year deal, giving him a chance to continue to prove himself without locking themselves into a massive contract. Either way, letting Soderblom go anywhere but Chicago simply can’t be done after what the team has seen out of its rising star.
