The Blackhawks Goaltending Situation Doesn’t Need a Quick Fix

In the very near future, the Chicago Blackhawks NHL roster might have three goaltenders ready to suit up for the team.

So far this season, Petr Mrazek has been the starting netminder of the Blackhawks. Through 15 games, Mrazek has registered a .912 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.68. His partner in the crease, 25 year old Arvid Soderblom has played in six games registered a .926 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.36.

Soderblom has played in 56 NHL games over the course of four seasons in Chicago. He is currently in the final year of a two year contract with Chicago, carrying a cap hit of just $963,000. Last year, Soderblom struggled in the Windy City. Through 32 games he registered a .879 save percentage and a goals against average of 3.92.

This season, Soderblom has looked a lot more improved in the six games Blackhawks fans have seen him in, and with Laurent Brossoit missing the start of the season with a lower body injury, Soderblom has really made the most of his time in Chicago.

On Nov. 24, Ben Pope of the Chicago SunTimes pointed out that once Soderblom gets to 60 career appearances he will require waivers to be sent down to the Rockford IceHogs.

While last year’s Soderblom would have cleared waivers, this season the Blackhawks netminder has found his groove. With a handful of teams dealing with injuries in the net, Chicago very well could lose Soderblom if he was put on waivers.

Kyle Davidson and the Blackhawks might not know where Soderblom fits into the future of this team, but with Soderblom looking better and more solid in the net, it isn’t necessarily a partnership Davidson would want to part with just yet.

The Blackhawks goaltending situation doesn’t need a quick fix.

The worst thing the Blackhawks could do right now would be to go out and trade Soderblom once Brossoit returns. Brossoit has not played yet this season, his last NHL game came on April 28 during the Winnipeg Jets 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 4 of the Western Conference 1st Round. The Hawks have not seen Brossoit yet and how he will bounce back after missing so much time, trading or placing Soderblom through waivers would hurt the Blackhawks goaltending depth, also impacting another top goalie prospect.

Losing Soderblom would elevate Drew Commesso should Brossoit or Mrazek miss time. That would not be a recipe for success considering Commesso has struggled this season in Rockford with a .872 save percentage. Davidson may want to give the Blackhawks young netminder more time to work on his game with less attention compared to the NHL.

So, with that in mind, Davidson and the Blackhawks need to let their goaltending situation play out. If Soderblom gets to the 60 career game mark, then the Blackhawks can move forward with three goaltenders on the roster. Or if Brossoit returns before that, the Hawks can send Soderblom to Rockford to split time with Commesso.

Coming up the Blackhawks have two sets of back to back games during the month of December, once on Dec. 1-2 (vs Columbus then at Toronto) and again on Dec. 14-15 (at New Jersey then vs New York Islanders).

January has just one set of back to back games. So in theory Mrazek could take on a majority of the starts for the next month plus until Brossoit returns. Mrazek started 10 of the Blackhawks first 12 games this season so it isn’t out of the question that he continues to take the majority of the starts, but that would be a lot of games.

Chicago goaltending “problem” is arguably one of the best case scenarios for the team long term. Arvid Soderblom has played his way into the NHL currently. When the season started, Soderblom was supposed to be in Rockford but he has taken advantage of the opportunity and ice time that fell onto him with Brossoit out. Now, him name is still in the running for the future starting goaltender of this team in a few years.

For more Blackhawks News from Jim Lynch and Brooke LoFurno, visit Chicago Hockey Now, subscribe to our YouTube and like our Facebook page.

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