The ideal goalie tandem for the Chicago Blackhawks next season is Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom. This gives the team a young tandem of two goalies who have taken steps forward this season and deserve it.
The issue is that the Blackhawks have four goalies for next season, and that's not even including Drew Commesso who will play out next season in the AHL again. Soderblom is the only one of Knight, Petr Mrazek, Laurent Brossoit, and himself who isn't signed next season, but will be as he's a RFA.
It doesn't make sense for the Blackhawks to hold onto all four goalies, but trading one ahead of the trade deadline is also tricky. Brossoit should be considered out for the season at this point, but Mrazek also has another year left on his deal. His contract goes through next season at $4.25 million AAV.
With all three retention spots being used by the Blackhawks this season, that means a trade involving Mrazek would have to entail no retention and the acquiring team would be taking on the full cap hit. That's not in the interest of any team right now unless a big chunk of money becomes free and a need arises. We have to assume the Blackhawks will just run with three goalies - Knight, Soderblom, and Mrazek - on the roster for the remainder of the season and make decisions in the summer.
If that's the case, Brossoit will likely be ready to go for next season. If the Blackhawks are going with Knight and Soderblom in the NHL, it would really hurt Commesso's development and also make no sense to have both Mrazek and Brossoit in the AHL taking up space and playing the majority of the games. With one year left on each of the veterans' deals, buying them out only extends the cap hit on the team for another season.
Two retention spots open up in the offseason with Mikko Rantanen and Jake McCabe coming off the books, so Mrazek, at 50% retention ($2.125 million AAV) isn't bad at all for a seasoned veteran to serve as a backup. This is how it will likely have to play out for Chicago.
Brossoit would then serve as the third-string goalie, if healthy, and probably get into some games for the Blackhawks over the course of 2025-26 before he too becomes a UFA. He would split time with Commesso in the AHL for the Rockford IceHogs.
Since a buyout of either Mrazek or Brossoit makes little sense at this stage for Chicago, if neither can be moved, having one play for Rockford and loaning the other to another AHL team is the best course of action. Everyone gets playing time and the Blackhawks are freed up for next season and beyond.
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