Chicago has a couple of options to be the third-string goalie the team needs next season. Drew Commesso and Jaxson Stauber are next up.
The Chicago Blackhawks didn't have a third-string goalie ready to step in or step up last season, but that could change in 2024-25.
A number of great storylines around the NHL focused on third-string goalies making big impacts for their teams when they were really needed. Chicago was one of only a few teams in the entire NHL without a third goalie who had much NHL experience. If the Blackhawks had needed a third netminder, he basically would have been coming up as an AHLer, at best.
To name a number of successful third-string goalies from 2023-24, there were Carolina's Pyotr Kochetkov, Detroit's Alex Lyon, Los Angeles' David Rittich, Edmonton's Calvin Pickard, Toronto's Martin Jones, Carolina's Spencer Martin, and Montréal's Cayden Primeau. All started the season as the third options on their team and one way or another stepped in, provided support or took over the starting job, and ran with it.
The Blackhawks got great goaltending from their starter, Petr Mrazek, but that isn't enough. Backup Arvid Söderblom was given the opportunity without competition to have a full year in the NHL and he often struggled. The 24-year-old Swede went 5-22-2 with a 3.92 GAA and .879 SV%. His goals saved above expected in 2023-24 was -23.0.
There was really nobody else to turn to as it would've fast-tracked Jaxson Stauber or Drew Commesso from Rockford to the NHL into the backup role on a weak team.
Stauber has six NHL games under his belt and may be the most NHL-ready, but maybe not last season as he put up a .902 SV% with the Rockford IceHogs during the regular season. Stauber is 25 years old, so if Söderblom struggles (if he isn't beat out as the backup in training camp), Stauber may be the one to step up. His last NHL go-around in 2022-23 saw him post a .911 SV% in six games.
Commesso is three years younger and will be 22 by the time next season starts. He is a top-10 prospect in Chicago based on THN's Future Watch and had a better regular season than Stauber in the AHL. It was Commesso's first pro season after three years at Boston University.
Commesso started three of the IceHogs' four playoff games, going 1-2-0 with a 2.57 GAA and .915 SV% as Rockford fell to Grand Rapids.
Stauber could very well be passed over by Commesso based on trajectory. The 22-year-old may be better suited to play on a better Rockford team than a likely bottom-5 Blackhawks team next season though. Commesso might still need to learn and fill out physically in the AHL for at least one more year or part of the season.
A lot depends on Söderblom's ability to prove he's a capable NHL goalie. There's no rush at the very moment as Chicago isn't expected to make the playoffs, but performances either have to be rewarded to Commesso and Stauber or taken away from Söderblom if he isn't up to the challenge. In only 21 of 50 career games has Söderblom even finished with a SV% of at least .900.
Both AHL goalies posted at least a .902 SV% in the regular season and at least a .915 SV% in the playoffs. That's a good sign for Chicago. It means the Blackhawks' options are better coming into this next season than they were heading into 2023-24.
One year for Commesso, but another year for Stauber in pro hockey is only beneficial to actually give the Blackhawks options. The team probably isn't going to go out and sign anyone to backup Mrazek or be the third-string goalie, so it's up to the internal development to create competition this time around.
