Arvid Soderblom - The Hawks Future in The Crease May Have to Compete With This Other Blackhawks Prospect

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Jared
November 5, 2022 (1:02 PM)

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There is no hiding the fact that the Blackhawks have a goalie problem. The days of having Corey Crawford stabilizing the goal crease are well behind us. Marc Andre Fleury was a great addition this past season, but with him out of the picture, the goalies on the main roster are filled with nothing but doubt and question marks. However, there is one goalie in the system that could be the saving grace the Hawks have been waiting for. While he may be the best shot in the current goalie pool to make an impact, he is more than a few years away from making a push to the NHL. That prospect is Drew Commesso. Although we may not get to see him in the NHL this year, there is no reason why everyone shouldn't know his name and cheer for his future. Let's dig in and learn more about what Drew Commesso brings to the table.

Commesso is only 19 years old and was selected in the 2nd round by the Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Draft. Commesso is entering his junior year at Boston University, posting above average numbers in his first two seasons. In his first two seasons, Commesso posted 2.99 and 2.52 goals against average respectively. He also posted .915 and .914 save percentage respectively.

Commesso is praised for his poise in the net. He can see pucks through traffic at an exceptional level and is known for making post to post saves. His aggressive game is beloved by all coaches Commesso has played for at every level. Commesso also played for team USA in this past years Olympics, becoming the youngest netminder ever to do so. In Olympic action, he started 2 games, posting a 2.00 goals against average, .920 save percentage, and collected a shutout.

With Commesso's experience and performance at the NCAA level and in the Olympics, he is poised to have a huge season at Boston. With Commesso at least returning to Boston for his junior season, when could we expect him in Rockford?

Since the Blackhawks are rebuilding, there is really no rush to get Commesso to the AHL/NHL. The Blackhawks are taking their time developing prospects to avoid rushing them along too fast, which will hopefully give players' development a nice boost. It is safe to assume that if Commesso has a career year at Boston University and given the current lack of goaltending depth in the pipeline, he will be making the jump to the AHL in 2023-24 season. The average age that goalies begin earning NHL minutes is around 23 years old, however, there are special cases in which they arrive sooner. With the Hawks rebuilding for at least the next three seasons, there will be plenty of opportunities for Commesso to lead the IceHogs for a full season or two before getting the call to Chicago.

All early indiciators are pointing to Commesso being the real deal. What do you guys think? Do you think he could be a piece to the next competing Hawks' team?