The future in net for the Blackhawks looks bright as two highly rated and talented young goalies should step in as Chicago ascends from its rebuild

The Chicago Blackhawks' big-picture goalie situation boils down to a matter of timing.

Called Chicago's MVP by teammates in 2023-24, 32-year-old Petr Mrazek was terrific last year in a career-high 53 starts. Under contract for two more seasons, Mrazek is expected to hold the fort while several younger netminders develop and prepare to battle for a role on the team.

Two of the Blackhawks' top 10 prospects from THN's 2024 Future Watch are goaltenders, Drew Commesso and Adam Gajan. Both are on the right track to be in the mix in the future for Chicago.

Commesso to Overtake Söderblom Eventually

Commesso is much further along than Gajan, having been drafted three years prior (2020). After three seasons as the No. 1 goalie for Boston University, Commesso is completing his first pro season with the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL.

The Blackhawks have had a good look at him as he started the majority of Rockford's games this season. Commesso posted a solid 2.65 GAA and .906 save percentage in the regular season as an AHL rookie. 

Now the AHL playoffs are underway, so there's still more for Commesso to learn.

Mrazek probably will be backed up by Arvid Söderblom once again in the NHL in 2024-25, but Commesso could challenge for the backup role in training camp. He would probably do better with another full season in the AHL to develop further since he's only 21 years old and is exempt from waivers until the 2027-28 season.

Söderblom has one year left on his contract and then becomes a RFA. Next season will be a big one for him seeing as he often struggled this season with a .879 save and just five wins in 32 games played.

If things go off the rails for the Swede, it could fast-track Commesso into the NHL if he continues to improve in the AHL.

The Blackhawks are hoping to take a step forward as a team next season and Söderblom has been given a pretty fair shake, playing in 50 games for Chicago in his career already. 

Assuming Commesso doesn't get full-time minutes in the NHL as a backup until 2025-26 or even 2026-27, it shouldn't take away from his potential and the time most goalies need to adjust to professional hockey.

Commesso is a bright and motivated goalie and should see a couple games in the NHL by mid-season of 2025-26. Eventually, he could be backstopping a team on the rise and in need of a young goaltender to take the reins and run for multiple seasons.

Gajan is Far Off, But Will Come in Ready

Gajan was drafted in the second round, 35th overall in 2023. So as a goalie, it's going to take years before he can contribute in the NHL. When it comes to raw ability, THN Future Watch scouts rate the Slovakian netminder slightly higher than Commesso.

Gajan, who turns 20 on May 6, is finishing up with the USHL Green Bay Gamblers this season where he played 43 games with a 23-12-6 record, 3.35 goals-against average and .893 save percentage. Since there's a lot of scoring in the USHL, a .893 SV% isn't as bad as in pro hockey.

Gajan has appeared in two World Junior Championships for Slovakia and Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson calls him a "big-game" goalie.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Gajan is committed to play at the University of Minnesota-Duluth next season and will likely be there for two or three years before signing a contract with the Blackhawks. By that time, he could still be a year or two away from the NHL and need seasoning in the AHL, just like Commesso.

By the time Gajan arrives in Chicago, the expectation is that the Blackhawks will already be rebuilt and have either made the playoffs or be right on the cusp. He may first come in as a backup, but will have lots of development by that time.

Ideally, Commesso and Gajan will be fully capable of being integrated onto the Blackhawks in the coming years as the team rises up and help lead Chicago to success from the crease.

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