The offseason is nerve-wracking enough as it stands for the Chicago Blackhawks. The last they needed was for extra drama with one of Connor Bedard‘s key teammates as Jeff Blashill gears up for his head coaching debut NHL season in the Windy City.
With their minds focused entirely on entering a new stage of their rebuild, the Blackhawks have no time to worry about off-the-ice antics. Bedard and company need all the time they can get to settle in on the ice and start showing results.
On that note, Blashill will have his hands full. He’s entering a locker room that has seen several coaching staffs come and go on short notice. The team’s identity has been more of a waxing-and-waning façade than a consistent style of play. To say Blashill will face a steep climb would be an understatement. In Chicago, fans are used to strong winds—but lately, it feels like those winds have been blowing against the Hawks, keeping them from moving forward.
Therefore, the Blackhawks looked to avoid legal trouble with backup goaltender Arvid Soderblom. Keeping the Spencer Knight–Arvid Soderblom tandem was pivotal, and after weeks of uncertainty—and looming legal concerns—Chicago finally reached an agreement.
Arvid Soderblom #40 of the Chicago Blackhawks reacts after allowing a goal against the New York Rangers during the second period at the United Center on January 05, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois
“Soderblom signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, avoiding an arbitration hearing. It has an average annual value of $2.75 million,” as reported by NHL.com.
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All quiet in Chi-town
Aside from Soderblom’s extension, not much has happened in Chi-city during the NHL offseason. While fans hoped Kyle Davidson and the front office would be more aggressive during free agency, it seems the Blackhawks are rolling with a very similar roster into the 2025-26 season. Fans might disapprove, but Bedard is not too worried about it.
“I think it makes sense. We’re in a spot where a lot of our young guys — Frank [Nazar], myself, Sammy [Rinzel], you go down the list — all feel like we can take a step as a group,” Bedard admitted, via Chicago Sun-Times. “It gives a lot of guys opportunities to come into camp and earn a spot on the team, have an impact and learn.
“That being said, we’re not going to not have any expectations. We’re going to try to win every game and be confident in every guy in the room. It’s exciting for us to start that together and grow together over the next however many years.”
Connor Bedard holds the E. J. McGuire Award of Excellence during the 2023 NHL Awards at Bridgestone Arena on June 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Pending business
As it stands, the Blackhawks’ roster is all but set going into training camp and the NHL preseason. However, there is one piece of business left to be taken care of. Restricted free agent (RFA) Wyatt Kaiser remains without a contract.
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Unlike Soderblom, though, Kaiser can’t file for salary arbitration, so it’s unlikely the 22-year-old defenseman will skip town anytime soon. It’s more a matter of when than if.
