Blackhawks Place Backup Goalie Arvid Soderblom on Waivers

Chicago placed Soderblom on waivers on November 8, a move that could end his more than three-season stretch as the Blackhawks’ backup. The 27-year-old Swede is midway through his two-year contract and is due to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

If Soderblom clears waivers on November 9, or another team claims him, Chicago will have room to bring in a goalie. Drew Commesso is a likely candidate. The prospect has spent more than three years with the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate in Rockford and signed a two-year contract this summer that will carry one-way status next season.

Commesso has started this season 2-4-1 with an .890 save percentage in the AHL. He posted a 2-1-0 record and .918 save percentage in three NHL starts last season, including a shutout against Nashville. Soderblom, by contrast, has lost all four of his starts this season with an .842 save percentage. He also gave up three goals after entering in relief on November 7, following a 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay on November 5.

Across 117 NHL games, Soderblom has an .885 save percentage. Since the start of last season, his goals saved above expected stands at minus-18.2, the sixth-lowest mark in the league. Commesso’s early-season struggles and Chicago’s defensive problems leave uncertainty about whether the change will improve the team’s goaltending.