The Blackhawks and goaltender Arvid Söderblom won’t need the arbitration hearing they had scheduled for Monday. They’ve settled on a two-year deal paying the restricted free agent an average annual value of $2.75MM, the team announced.
Söderblom, who turns 26 in August, had set himself up well in contract talks this summer after something of a breakout season in 2024-25. An undrafted free agent signed by Chicago out of the SHL’s Skellefteå AIK in 2021, the Gothenburg native started a career-high 33 games with a 10-18-7 record, .898 SV%, 3.18 GAA, and 16 quality starts.
While those numbers don’t jump off the page, it’s important to put them in context with the Hawks’ poor defense last season. Söderblom had the seventh-highest expected goals against average (3.20) of any NHL netminder to play at least 30 games last season, so his performance still came in better than expected with 1.0 GSAx and 0.16 wins above replacement on the year, according to MoneyPuck.
Assuming he can keep that up, Söderblom has cemented himself as a fine 1B/backup option in Chicago who may still have some room to grow. His performance was leaps and bounds better after a 2023-24 campaign that saw him struggle in his first chance as a full-time NHLer, posting a 5-22-2 record with a .879 SV% and 3.92 GAA in 32 appearances.
Even if veteran backup Laurent Brossoit is ready to play this season after missing all of 2024-45 with a knee injury, Söderblom should still be penciled in as the primary backup to emerging starter Spencer Knight on Chicago’s opening night roster. If there was any doubt beforehand, the Blackhawks’ willingness to pay him an AAV in the high $2MM range on a pre-hearing settlement indicates that’s the role they envision him playing.
The new deal barely puts a dent in Chicago’s practically infinite cap space at this stage of the offseason, still leaving them with $18.6MM in space with an open roster spot, per PuckPedia. The Blackhawks’ lone remaining unsigned RFA is defenseman Wyatt Kaiser, who was neither arbitration nor offer sheet-eligible this summer.
Söderblom’s settlement walks him to unrestricted free agency in 2027. The first three of seven arbitration hearings have now been settled; the next unsettled one on the docket is Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg on July 30.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet was the first to report the deal.
Image courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images.
Great, but what’s going on with Laurent Brossoit? It’s been radio silence on his health. Is he playing this year or is it LTIR and his career is done? Otherwise they’re going with a 3-man rotation, I guess. If Brossoit is healthy I really don’t agree with having Soderblom penciled in as the backup. Brossoit is a terrific goaltender.
Hawks should trade for Laine.
Brossoit had knee surgery in the summer of 24, He then underwent meniscus surgery in November 24, After the second surgery the Hawks announced that the goaltender would be out an additional 6 weeks, He still hasn’t returned, And I think its starting to look like he won’t. If he does, It seems they will have to carry three netminders.
Broissoit is supposed to be healthy but having 3 G’s isn’t the worst thing in the world. Not like the Hawks are in Cap Purgatory or anything. Maybe someone comes knocking.
There are teams where Soderblom would be pushing to be the #1.
His numbers last season were extraordinary, considering the defense in front of him.
Josh was being nice when he said “it’s important to put them in context with the Hawks’ poor defense last season.” “Poor” is the understatement of the year. Unless Blashill has a magic wand, expect more of the same this year.
No way they’re carrying 3 goalies. Broissoit will most likely be moved if healthy.
What’s to stop them? Just curious. They get 20 players and 18 play so what’s the difference if it’s a G or a Position guy who sits in the press box? Most teams don’t carry 3 Goalies because of the cap cost. Hawks have no such problem.