Goalie Arvid Soderblom is officially back in the fold.
The Chicago Blackhawks announced the team avoided arbitration by agreeing to a two-year deal with their backup netminder.
Soderblom's cap hit is $2.75 million.
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 26, 2025
The Hawks got Soderblom at the ideal price and for the correct number of years.
The cap hit might be a bit higher than what was projected, but the Blackhawks have cap space to spare. It secures the Hawks having at least one goalie under contract through the 2026-27 season.
Spencer Knight is the team's assumed No. 1 goalie, but he is set for restricted free agency after this upcoming season. Prospect Drew Commesso's entry-level deal also expires after the 2025-26 season.
The Hawks should secure another deal with both, but it is still good that the team has its bases covered, just in case another team pulls off a surprise offer sheet.
If Commesso shows signs of progress this upcoming season at Rockford, the Hawks can possibly then flip Soderblom next offseason in a trade.
It is good that the Hawks did not commit too many years to Soderblom. There is the risk that he regresses to his awful 2023-24 season when Soderblom posted one of the worst seasons for an NHL goalie.
He went 5-22-2 during that campaign with a .879 save percentage and 3.92 goals against average. Soderblom had a league-worst -18.2 saves above expected that season.
Soderblom was so bad, the Hawks added veteran Laurent Brossoit to be the team's No. 2 goalie.
Brossoit was supposed to be an upgrade, while Soderblom was to be exiled to Rockford. That plan was scrapped when Brossoit needed knee surgery before training camp. He was supposed to be out for a few weeks. He missed the whole season and needed another procedure.
Soderblom took advantage of the new lease on his NHL life with a .898 save percentage, a 3.18 GAA, and one save above expected this past season. Those numbers were good enough to earn Soderblom his modest new deal.
If Brossoit is healthy enough to play this season, then the Hawks must make a tough decision. Although it might not be so tough.
WGN radio's Charlie Roumeliotis writes that Soderblom is the assumed backup goalie heading into camp. It makes sense since Soderblom is 26 while Brossoit is 32.
The Hawks could also buy out Brossoit's final year of his deal. Brossoit was one of the better backup netminders in the NHL before last season, so there could be a market for Brossoit if he is healthy.
Although he will likely have to prove he is healthy in training camp. If his knee is still bothering him, a long-term injured reserve stay is possible.
Re-signing Soderblom also checks off one of the moves the team had to make. The last task the front office has left is re-signing restricted free agent Wyatt Kaiser.
