Arvid Soderblom, like a number of RFAs this summer, are taking their contract negotiations with their team to arbitration. According to PuckPedia, he is first up on July 28.
The Chicago Blackhawks were fortunate they were able to see Soderblom's ability from the start of last season. This was due to Laurent Brossoit missing the entire season due to injury. Soderblom was originally set to be the third string goalie, but he broke out and earned his spot last season and for this coming season.
Soderblom will likely start fewer games than Spencer Knight next season, but could very well put up equal or better numbers. Soderblom started very strong in 2024-25, and so did Petr Mrazek, but eventually both started to get beaten more and their numbers dropped on a 31st place Blackhawks team.
Soderblom is coming off a two-year, $963,000 AAV deal with Chicago and he finished last season with a record of 10-18-7 to go along with a 3.18 GAA, .898 SV%, and no shutouts. He actually had a 0.96 goals saved above expected too, which means he did his job even though it was tough sledding in front of him.
The Blackhawks have over $21 million in projected cap space, so it is interesting why they can't get a deal done with Soderblom. It could be a number of things, such as planning for the future if the goaltender wants too much term on his next contract right now. I think it would have more to do with length of the contract than the money because Chicago has both Drew Commesso and Stanislav Berezhnoy in the minors.
Soderblom also only gave the Blackhawks one pretty impressive season. While some teams bite when a player does that and signs them to deals they can't live up to, the Blackhawks seem to be taking a more careful approach and looking to build the team so that there is nothing in their way once they turn the corner.
We'll soon see what kind of deal Soderblom gets in arbitration if he and the Blackhawks don't come to terms on a deal sooner.
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