The Chicago Blackhawks had high hopes that Laurent Brossoit would be an upgrade as the backup goalie over Arvid Soderblom. However, with Brossoit undergoing meniscus surgery yesterday, he is expected to be out for five to seven weeks, sidelining him for most of training camp and preseason games. This means the team won’t get a chance to see if Brossoit is indeed better than Soderblom during this critical preparation period.
Brossoit’s return is projected between October 1st and 15th, which could also mean missing the first few regular-season games. If his recovery takes the full seven weeks, Soderblom could have an opportunity to secure a spot on the NHL roster. Last season, Brossoit was among the top backup goalies in the NHL, posting 15 wins for the Winnipeg Jets with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage in 23 games. His 13.1 goals saved above expected ranked him 10th overall in the league. In contrast, Soderblom struggled last season, finishing with only five wins in 32 games, a 3.92 GAA, and a .879 save percentage, making 18 fewer saves than an average NHL goalie.
Given Soderblom’s poor performance last season, if Brossoit isn’t ready by the start of the season, there is speculation that the Hawks might consider starting top goalie prospect Drew Commesso on October 12th against the Edmonton Oilers. However, this would be a significant challenge for Commesso, who just finished his first season in the AHL, especially against one of the league’s best offensive teams. If Brossoit isn’t ready, the Blackhawks could also ask Petr Mrazek to start three consecutive games, but he typically struggles in the third game of such a streak. The team is hoping Brossoit will only be out for the minimum five weeks, as they will need him, especially given Mrazek’s history of injuries despite playing over 50 games last season.