Blackhawks’ sign goalie Arvid Soderblom to two-year contract extension

The Chicago Blackhawks announced Wednesday that they had signed goaltender Arvid Soderblom to a two-year contract extension. The contract has an average annual value of $962,500 and runs through the 2024-25 season. Soderblom was expected to become a restricted free agent this summer.

Soderblom spent the majority of last season with the Blackhawks’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, where he appeared in 33 games and posted a 15-12-5 record while sporting a 2.92 goals-against average (GAA) and .905 save percentage. He helped the IceHogs reach the Calder Cup Playoffs, and in five games, he posted a .895 save percentage before being eliminated in the Central Division Semifinals by the Texas Stars.

The 23-year-old got some reps in with the Blackhawks as well. When Petr Mrazek got injured, Soderblom was recalled to help backstop Alex Stalock between the pipes. In 15 games, he posted a 2-10-2 record to go with a 3.45 goals-against average and .894 save percentage. Despite the numbers, Soderblom showed confidence in net-backstopping a rebuilding team that, of course, won the Connor Bedard lottery.

The Goteborg, Sweden product has shown flashes of success at the pro level before and looks ready to be a part of the Blackhawks goaltending tandem next season alongside veteran Petr Mrazek. During the 2020-21 season, before making the jump to North America, he played for Skelleftea in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and posted a .921 save percentage through 22 games, proving he can handle the big stage. With a two-year extension now in hand, Soderblom has the chance to make a big impact on a struggling Blackhawks team that will indeed have the entire hockey world watching them closely next season when Connor Bedard takes the ice.