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As the Blackhawks entered a season of unknowns in October, the goaltender position was a particularly big question mark. The combination of Petr Mrazek and Arvid Soderblom wasn’t expected to be a highlight of a young team.
While Mrazek has been a pleasant surprise in his 16 starts, Soderblom has endured more than his fair share of struggles. Now 2-10-1, the 24-year-old carries a save percentage of .872 and has yet to turn into the NHL-caliber netminder the Blackhawks hoped he would be this year.
Although Soderblom doesn’t appear to be quite ready to be a full-time goaltender at the game’s highest level, Chicago will find it difficult to move in a different direction.
One possible solution for the Blackhawks’ problem is to seek a trade, bringing in a more consistent goalie and letting Soderblom develop further at the AHL level. However, such a move would be a disaster for a young team still multiple years away from competing for a championship. A great goaltender could bring the franchise a few more wins, but Chicago is last in the league in points (19).
Anyone expected to make a significant impact between the pipes would be nearly impossible to acquire at this point in the season. Even if a netminder were available, the Blackhawks would have to give up massive capital, whether that be picks or players. Such a trade would be a disaster for the long-term plans of the team’s rebuild.
The Blackhawks also lack any sort of depth within their organization at the position. Drew Commesso has been solid at the AHL level this year, but the 21-year-old isn’t anywhere close to being ready to be called up. Jaxson Stauber is the other netminder for the AHL-affiliate Rockford IceHogs, but his time with the Blackhawks in the past has been marred by even more mistakes than Soderblom’s, and there’s a reason the latter was given the first look between the pipes at the United Center. While the future of the goaltender position looks bright for Chicago, the team is completely out of options to share the net with Mrazek this year.
Although Soderblom isn’t doing his team any favors while still developing, the Blackhawks don’t have any options to replace him. The young goalie has plenty of improving to do, but he’ll be doing it at the NHL level.
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