Blackhawks set to ditch goaltenders high confidence with sendown to the AHL's IceHogs
The Chicago Blackhawks have managed to work themselves into a pickle, and they didn't even try to do it.
But that's just how the season's been going so far.
The Blackhawks signed goaltender Laurent Brossoit over the off-season, bringing him in on a two-year, $6.6 millon deal, which is $3.3 million per year.
Brossoit, 31 years old, had a really good season as Winnipeg's backup last year, as he played in 23 games and had a 2.00 GAA and a .927 SV%.
He was brought in to be a bandaid so that the young goalies like Drew Commesso, Arvid Soderblom, and Adam Gajan could work on their craft and not be rushed, so Brossoit would backup starting goalie Petr Mrazek.
However, Brossoit injured his knee and ended up needing surgery, but he should be back soon. In that time, though, his spot might've been taken.
Brossoit was brought in following uninspiring play from young goalie Arvid Soderblom last year who is 25 years old.
The Swedish native had a 3.92 GAA and a .890 SV% last season. Every game it was announced that he was starting, Hawks fans chalked it up as a loss before the game even started.
The team just wasn't confident playing under Soderblom and didn't look very good, while under Mrazek, they were confident and actually played decent, and even Mrazek stole games for Chicago that should've been lost.
However, this year is much different. Soderblom has worked hard over the summer, and it's paid off and you can tell that he did.
He's a lot more comfortable in between the pipes, and in correlation, the skaters play more comfortably and each game is a battle.
Soderblom in six games so far has posted a 2.36 GAA and a .926 SV%, which is a vast improvement from last year.
Unfortunately, the team's lack of scoring goals rears its ugly head, as Arvid only has one win to show for it.
He was also the reason the Blackhawks stayed in the game and nearly beat the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night.
So, what do the Blackhawks do when Brossoit gets back?
Well, being that Brossoit is the veteran and the shiny new piece just coming off a free agency signing, he'll probably get the spot as backup and Soderblom will head down to Rockford to team with Drew Commesso.
Petr Mrazek is the starter and helped the Blackhawks beat the Florida Panthers on Thursday night when he stopped 32 out of 33 shots.
Have your two veteran goalies play up in the NHL and have your two young goalies develop down in the AHL.
Either way, Kyle Davidson has a tough decision to make.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 22 | 138 ANSWERS Blackhawks set to ditch goaltenders high confidence with sendown to the AHL's IceHogs Who should be sent down to the AHL out of these two Chicago Blackhawks goaltenders? | ||
| Arvid Soderblom | 58 | 42 % |
| Laurent Brossoit | 80 | 58 % |
| List of polls | ||
