The Chicago Blackhawks are going to should commerce a goalie ultimately. Petr Mrazek is the starter, Laurent Brossoit, regardless of being injured since earlier than the season began, is the backup/second choice, and Arvid Soderblom is taking his alternative this season and operating with it.
Past simply these three, Drew Commesso, the subsequent in line in internet after that, is enjoying nicely within the AHL the place he ought to keep your entire season. Since Soderblom is within the NHL for now, it has given Commesso the runway to function the starter. He’s nonetheless a bit bit off changing into an NHL goalie, however the Blackhawks even have Adam Gajan within the NCAA. He’s seen as their future in internet and high goalie prospect.
That’s a variety of goalies to cope with and it’s a good drawback to have. Groups can pay a premium for goaltending, particularly with how this season has gone with some struggles in internet and the way the place would not appear secure for almost all of goalies.
Mrazek and Brossoit are good goalies and each proved as a lot final season. The veterans are each signed via subsequent season. The issue right here is that Brossoit is coping with a meniscus harm and it’s lingering. Which means, when he ultimately comes again, he could should nonetheless cope with it and be out and in of the lineup for the rest of his contract.
Whereas the depth in internet for the Blackhawks is clearly right here, that is not one thing any workforce needs to cope with. On high of that, Mrazek is not having the kind of season he put collectively for Chicago in 2023-24 both, though it hasn’t been dangerous. His high quality begin proportion is about equal, however his save proportion is down at .898 from .907 final season.
Mrazek has had some harm troubles himself all through his profession, however the Blackhawks are attempting to be a bit extra conscious of that to maintain him wholesome this season. He has nonetheless began 11 of the workforce’s 15 video games regardless of that. Mrazek will flip 33 this season and age will ultimately catch as much as him. He has executed good work since changing into a Blackhawk and I do not see the workforce transferring on from him earlier than the tip of his contract.
Rolling with three goalies is rarely an excellent state of affairs and the Blackhawks, regardless of good choices, cannot be a type of groups. Two goalies can greater than deal with the workload in a season.
Soderblom has proved he’s prepared for the NHL, however he’ll seemingly be the one despatched down if Brossoit returns. Soderblom continues to be in a position to be despatched down with out waivers this season. He could dominate the AHL, however will probably be his final time down there if he retains up his play. He’s forcing the hand of the Blackhawks.
When talking of a commerce that has to occur for one of many Blackhawks goalies, it would not should be this season. I believe the most effective time for that’s the low season. That may have given Chicago your entire season to judge Brossoit’s state of affairs and see if Soderblom is the true deal in internet and may sustain his play on the highest degree for an prolonged time period.
He has solely performed 4 video games, however has a 2.27 GAA and .933 SV%. The younger netminder hasn’t precisely confronted simple opponents, most just lately stopping 37 of 39 pictures from the Dallas Stars.
Related: Blackhawks Lose To Stars Despite Arvid Soderblom’s Brilliance
To illustrate every part goes comparatively nicely for Mrazek, Brossoit, and Soderblom this season. Mrazek performs nicely because the starter, Brossoit will get wholesome and finishes out the season, and Soderblom does proceed his sturdy play. Soderblom, if put via waivers subsequent season, shall be claimed by one other workforce. That’s an excessive amount of of a danger and the Blackhawks can be dropping a worthwhile commerce asset in the event that they went that route.
Given his age and potential, I believe Brossoit must be the one to be dealt. Sure, he was nice because the backup in Winnipeg final season with a 2.00 GAA and .927 SV%, however proper as he was prepared for an elevated workload, this unlucky harm state of affairs halted that.
The Blackhawks are a workforce that’s considering extra in regards to the future than proper now. The workforce added some items to assist the development alongside, however aren’t going to win simply but. Soderblom has a greater probability of serving to the workforce long-term than Brossoit due to age and potential. The younger goalie has no harm points as nicely.
I do not imagine there shall be a scarcity of suitors for Brossoit contemplating what he has executed in earlier seasons and his potential to separate begins wherever he goes. The Blackhawks do not should hit a homerun, they are going to simply should ultimately do one thing in order that the workforce would not lose an asset unnecessarily for nothing.
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