Soderblom is Not the Goalie of the Future
Arvid Soderblom has been one of the main points of discussion this season. But not for a good reason.
Last season, Arvid stepped in when Petr Mrazek was dealing with multiple hamstring injuries throughout the season. While he was out there, he looked solid, and as a 23-year-old goaltender it was very exciting. Sure, a 3.45 GAA and a .894 SV% in 15 games isn't great, but his great stats down in Rockford that year kind of backed it up, while showing flashes of being the future up in the NHL.
Well, all of that has changed. Arvid Soderblom got the backup goalie role this year, his first full-time role in the NHL. Management thought that he could be a future #1 goaltender, Luke Richardson had high hopes for him. But he has fumbled it, and the truth is- he just isn't good.
The Blackhawks play so much different and so much better when Petr Mrazek is in the net than him. When Chicago announces that Arvid's going to start, there's just this vibe that there will be three goals in the back of the net by the end of the first period. Not only that, but the third period collapse against the St Louis Blues, when they were up 5-2 going into the third, and ended up losing 7-5, didn't help his case at all.
Soderblom is currently sitting on a 4.15 GAA and a .870 SV%, with a record of 2-11-1 when he is starting.
