Yahoo Sports Blackhawks Are Going to Need to Trade a Goalie
The Chicago Blackhawks are going to have to trade a goalie eventually. Petr Mrazek is the starter, Laurent Brossoit, despite being injured since before the season started, is the backup/second option, and Arvid Soderblom is taking his opportunity this season and running with it.
Beyond just these three, Drew Commesso, the next in line in net after that, is playing well in the AHL where he should stay the entire season. Since Soderblom is in the NHL for now, it has given Commesso the runway to serve as the starter. He is still a little bit off becoming an NHL goalie, but the Blackhawks also have Adam Gajan in the NCAA. He is seen as their future in net and top goalie prospect.
That is a lot of goalies to deal with and it is a good problem to have. Teams will pay a premium for goaltending, especially with how this season has gone with some struggles in net and how the position doesn't seem safe for the majority of goalies.
Mrazek and Brossoit are good goalies and both proved as much last season. The veterans are both signed through next season. The problem here is that Brossoit is dealing with a meniscus injury and it is lingering. That means, when he eventually comes back, he may have to still deal with it and be in and out of the lineup for the remainder of his contract.
While the depth in net for the Blackhawks is clearly here, that isn't something any team wants to deal with. On top of that, Mrazek isn't having the type of season he put together for Chicago in 2023-24 either, even though it hasn't been bad. His quality start percentage is about equal, but his save percentage is down at .898 from .907 last season.
Mrazek has had some injury troubles himself throughout his career, but the Blackhawks are trying to be a little more mindful of that to keep him healthy this season. He has still started 11 of the team's 15 games despite that. Mrazek will turn 33 this season and age will eventually catch up to him. He has done good work since becoming a Blackhawk and I don't see the team moving on from him before the end of his contract.
Rolling with three goalies is never a good situation and the Blackhawks, despite good options, can't be one of those teams. Two goalies can more than handle the workload in a season.
Soderblom has proved he is ready for the NHL, but he will likely be the one sent down if Brossoit returns. Soderblom is still able to be sent down without waivers this season. He may dominate the AHL, but it will be his last time down there if he keeps up his play. He is forcing the hand of the Blackhawks.
When speaking of a trade that has to happen for one of the Blackhawks goalies, it doesn't have to be this season. I think the best time for that is the off-season. That will have given Chicago the entire season to evaluate Brossoit's situation and see if Soderblom is the real deal in net and can keep up his play at the highest level for an extended period of time.
He has only played four games, but has a 2.27 GAA and .933 SV%. The young netminder hasn't exactly faced easy opponents, most recently stopping 37 of 39 shots from the Dallas Stars.
Related: Blackhawks Lose To Stars Despite Arvid Soderblom’s Brilliance
Let's say everything goes relatively well for Mrazek, Brossoit, and Soderblom this season. Mrazek plays well as the starter, Brossoit gets healthy and finishes out the season, and Soderblom does continue his strong play. Soderblom, if put through waivers next season, will be claimed by another team. That is too much of a risk and the Blackhawks would be losing a valuable trade asset if they went that route.
Given his age and potential, I think Brossoit should be the one to be dealt. Yes, he was great as the backup in Winnipeg last season with a 2.00 GAA and .927 SV%, but right as he was ready for an increased workload, this unfortunate injury situation halted that.
The Blackhawks are a team that is thinking more about the future than right now. The team added some pieces to help the progression along, but aren't going to win just yet. Soderblom has a better chance of helping the team long-term than Brossoit because of age and potential. The young goalie has no injury issues as well.
I don't believe there will be a shortage of suitors for Brossoit considering what he has done in previous seasons and his potential to split starts wherever he goes. The Blackhawks don't have to hit a homerun, they will just have to eventually do something so that the team doesn't lose an asset unnecessarily for nothing.
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