The Chicago Blackhawks are locked in an intense negotiation with one of Connor Bedard’s key teammates. With neither side willing to budge, NHL intervention will be required to reach a resolution.
The Blackhawks have had a measly quiet offseason so far. Determined to achieve much better results in the 2025-26 NHL season, Bedard and Chicago must turn the tide. On that note, the Hawks need all the help they can get. Throughout the lineup, the Blackhawks have serious concerns. Forward depth has been a head-scratching issue for quite some time, compounded by the lack of a clear line combination to deploy alongside Bedard on the top unit.
The defensive side of the puck isn’t much better, either. Connor Murphy is the only defenseman born before the turn of the century, as Chicago’s blue line is largely made up of young players. Though a thrilling sight, it also makes for mishaps night in and night out for the Hawks.
The goaltending situation appears more stable, with Spencer Knight expected to take firm control of the starting job and Arvid Soderblom slated as the backup. However, the RFA has yet to agree on a new contract—and has now requested NHL arbitration. Keeping him might be easier said than done.
Goaltender Arvid Soderblom #40 of the Chicago Blackhawks defends the net against the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 20, 2022 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Stepping in
Soderblom has filed for salary arbitration ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season, according to insider Frank Seravalli on X. A restricted free agent, Soderblom received a qualifying offer of $1M salary from Chicago, per PuckPedia. Deemed not enough, the 25-year-old goaltender has now elected for an arbitrator to step in.
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The two parties can continue their current negotiations until the hearing for the appropriate compensation begins in late July. The arbitrator can award one or two-year contracts, which Chicago can walk away from. If that’s the case, Soderblom would become an unrestricted free agent.
However, Bedard and the Hawks might not be thrilled to see Soderblom back between the pipes. The undrafted netminder appeared in 36 games last season, posting a 3.18 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage.
Connor Bedard #98 of the Chicago Blackhawks observes the playing of the national anthem prior to the game against the Vegas Golden Knights at the United Center on October 21, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.
Power move
While the prospect of an arbitrator stepping in is very real, Soderblom’s decision is seen primarily as a negotiating tactic. As many around the league point out, these cases rarely make it all the way to a hearing, with most sides reaching an agreement beforehand.
“It’s often a move for leverage; most RFAs end up signing before their arbitration hearing,” Chicago Sun-Times’ reporter Ben Pope said on his X account.
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The Blackhawks have little interest in letting the drama drag deeper into the offseason, and an agreement between the free-agent goalie and the organization holding his signing rights is expected. Once that’s settled, Bedard and company can fully focus on the upcoming 2025-26 NHL season.
