Are the Blackhawks Facing a Goalie Dilemma?

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Ryan Hall
July 18, 2023 (3:05)

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The Blackhawks' rebuilding phase is in full swing as General Manager Kyle Davidson continues to reshape the roster, especially the forward lines.

Today, it was announced that he had signed the superstar in the making, Connor Bedard, to a three-year entry-level contract. This highly anticipated and necessary move will help solidify the roster for game one in October.

However, the Blackhawks are now facing a new dilemma regarding their goaltending situation. As all NHL fans know, the goaltending position is the backbone of any team, and for any organization to have success, they are required to find a number one starter. Unfortunately, at the moment, the Blackhawks do not have a genuine #1 starter.

According to capfriendly.com, Chicago has Petr Mrazek and Arvid Soderblom marked as their tandem for the upcoming season. In recent years, Mrazek has been plagued by injuries, which led to his trade to the Blackhawks from the Toronto Maple Leafs, where the Blackhawks received a first-round pick.

On the other hand, Soderblom, the up and coming goalie at the age of 23, signed a deal worth $962,000 over the next two years. There is a possibility that he could surpass Mrazek and become the genuine starter, as he has shown flashes of his potential.

The dilemma, in my opinion, is whether the Blackhawks should sign a new goaltender long-term while continuing their rebuilding phase or stick with the tandem they currently have and continue losing games until they are ready to acquire a goalie for a playoff run.

If Davidson's goal is to remain in the bottom third of the league to get another shot at a top-five pick, then the Blackhawks should prioritize that and stick with what they have.

However, there are a few goalies available who could help the Blackhawks, including John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks, Connor Hellebuyck, who has stated that he does not want to sign long-term with the Winnipeg Jets, and UFA Martin Jones, formerly of the San Jose Sharks and the Seattle Kraken.