The Chicago Blackhawks had a largely uneventful offseason, making only a few notable moves. They hired Jeff Blashill as their new head coach and re-signed forward Ryan Donato. Aside from those decisions, the team mostly stayed quiet. Over the weekend, they avoided arbitration with restricted free agent goalie Arvid Soderblom by agreeing to a two-year contract extension, valued at $2.75 million per season.
Blackhawks Settle with Soderblom as Goalie Competition Intensifies for Backup Role
Originally, Soderblom was set for an arbitration hearing on Monday, but the team and player reached a deal beforehand, as reported by Josh Wegman of The Score. The agreement ensures financial stability for both sides while giving Soderblom another chance to prove his worth. Despite the new deal, Soderblom may still end up as the team’s third-string goaltender due to increased competition in the crease.
Arvid Soderblom (NHL)The Blackhawks made a significant move at last season’s trade deadline by sending veteran defenseman Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers in exchange for young goalie Spencer Knight. Knight is expected to take over as the team’s starting goaltender in the future. With journeyman backup Laurent Brossoit also under contract, a battle is brewing for the backup role, with Soderblom needing to assert himself to avoid slipping further down the depth chart.
Soderblom’s Future Hinges on Proving Himself as a Reliable NHL Starting Goaltender
Since joining the Blackhawks, Soderblom has appeared in 86 games over four seasons, with last season marking his best performance to date. He posted a .898 save percentage and a 3.18 goals-against average in 36 games — both career highs. However, he has yet to prove he can be a full-time starter, which led GM Kyle Davidson to pursue Knight as the potential long-term solution in goal.
Soderblom will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-27 season, and the next two years will be crucial in determining his NHL future. If he continues as a reliable backup, he’ll likely stay in the league, but a major improvement could lead to a more lucrative deal down the line. For the Blackhawks, their playoff hopes rest on whether Knight or Soderblom can make a substantial leap forward and solidify the team’s goaltending situation.
