The Chicago Blackhawks have strong organizational depth at goaltending. That gives Adam Gajan time to develop at the pro level.
Spencer Knight is the undisputed starting goaltender for the Chicago Blackhawks. Since coming over in the Seth Jones trade, he has blossomed into the first-round goalie he was selected as by the Florida Panthers.
For at least one more year, Arvid Soderblom will be Knight's backup. He has one year left on his current contract, and he is playing in 2026-27 as an audition for his future.
Soderblom's future may come elsewhere if Drew Commesso has a better showing. Commesso didn't play in the NHL much last year, but he was great wherever he played between Chicago and the Rockford IceHogs.
The last year of Soderblom's deal lines up with Commesso's final year of a two-way deal. In 2027-28, Commesso's contract becomes one-way.
The fourth-string goaltender, as of right now, is first-year pro Adam Gajan. If everyone stays healthy and on track, he will be the IceHogs backup for one year behind Commesso. Because of this situation, he has plenty of time to develop at a steady pace.
Gajan was a second-round pick (35th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. It was his play with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL that got him into a position to be selected in the second round. He eventually attended the University of Minnesota Duluth, where it was a tale of two seasons.
The first year was mostly a struggle for Gajan. He had a 3.33 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage. He followed that up with a much better sophomore season: 2.25 goals against and a .908 save percentage.
At the end of the regular season, Gajan did play one game for the Rockford IceHogs. He had a solid showing, with a 3.03 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. The IceHogs were not a great team by the end of the year, but his one chance went as well as it could.
Throughout it all, he has participated in multiple international events at all age levels with Team Slovakia. That includes the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina, where he was the third string. He didn't play any games, but it was a learning experience surrounded by so much talent.
Is Adam Gajan ever going to be the starting goaltender for the Chicago Blackhawks? That remains to be seen. They will continue with Spencer Knight, who is pushing the boundaries of being elite, and they will evaluate everyone else along the way.
There is also the option to make trades in an effort to make other parts of the team stronger. That will become increasingly possible with Gajan as time goes on, especially if they continue to draft at least one goalie high every other year. You can never have enough depth at the position.
For now, becoming the best version of himself is the goal for Gajan. The next chapter is proving himself at the AHL level. If he gets any NHL time this year, that probably means there was significant bad luck in terms of injuries, but nothing is impossible.
The IceHogs should be an improved team this year, and Gajan will get his fair share of games. The pace at which he is able to develop will dictate his future, but he has plenty of time to grow into his game. At 22 years old, he has a bright future ahead.
Before the AHL regular season begins, Gajan has a few NHL events he will be a part of first. First, he will be one of Chicago's goalies at the 2026 Prospect Challenge. There will be three practices and two games, one of which Gajan is certain to start.
NHL Camp - which follows the Prospect Challenge - is shorter this year, but he could stick around for the early stages and possibly even dress for a preseason game or two. After that, it will be AHL-bound for the talented young goalie.
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