In case you missed it, this previous week was dubbed Goaltender Week by the Nationwide Hockey League. All week lengthy the NHL has been“celebrating the goaltending place, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 1, reveling within the uniqueness and artistry of the puck-stoppers behind the masks.”
I’m fully on board with this, seeing as this place is among the most elusive in sports activities. Simply what makes a goaltender tick? What makes them profitable? Does anyone actually know?! Not many individuals can name themselves consultants with regards to the magic of the person between the crease. And who the hell needs this job anyway?! Of their very own volition, goaltenders repeatedly put their our bodies in entrance of a rubber puck flying at them with nice velocity. To not point out they’re both the saviors that stood on their heads or the scapegoats that misplaced the sport for the staff (one excessive to the opposite!).
With this in thoughts, I needed to offer some like to the Chicago Blackhawks goalies as we head into the 2024-25 season.
Blackhawks Showcase Hockey Masks
Hockey is such a team-first sport that gamers are inclined to draw back from their very own individuality. It’s all the time “we” and “the staff”. However goaltenders are distinctive in that they will categorical a lot artistry and originality of their goalie masks and pads. The Blackhawks showcased a few of these masks this week on X.
masks that belong within the Louvre🧑🎨 #NHLGoalieWeek pic.twitter.com/PQNcb8DsxY
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) August 27, 2024
I simply love the creativity & artistry that goes into hockey masks. That is one thing particular person & distinctive in a sport the place everybody is inspired to not stand out from the staff. Goaltenders might need one of many hardest jobs on the earth. However no less than they’ve this outlet to precise themselves.
We see present netminder Petr Mrazek sports activities a colourful and glossy masks within the image above. However what else has Mrazek been as much as?
Mrazek Enjoys Busy Offseason
The 32-year-old very a lot stole the present final season. He overcame earlier accidents to grow to be the Blackhawks’ No. 1 goaltender, suiting up for 56 contests and posting a .907 save proportion and a 3.05 objectives towards common. He did this all regardless of a really porous protection in entrance of him and a a lot youthful Arvid Soderblom (25 years previous) competing for a similar job.
Mrazek’s expertise and consistency in internet earned him a two-year extension with the Blackhawks. He’s already made his mark along with his teammates each on and off the ice. However we’ve realized a couple of different tidbits about Mrazek just lately.
For one, he tied the knot over the summer time. What a gorgeous couple!
Everybody say congrats to the Mrazeks❤️ pic.twitter.com/BNooK4Dn6l
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) August 9, 2024
Apparently Mrazek additionally actually likes his timepieces. Yep, in response to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman in his latest “32 Ideas”, the Czech native visited the posh watch Adudemars Piguet manufacturing facility/museum in Switzerland this offseason. He stated he was tremendous desirous about how watches had been made, and known as it an “unimaginable” expertise. He owns 20 to 25 high-end watches himself, and has teammates Jason Dickinson, Nick Foligno and Seth Jones all within the watch world.
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There you have got it! Mrazek can cease pucks, get married AND he’s an professional on watches!
Brossoit Hopes to Compete at Excessive Stage, Regardless of Setbacks
Common supervisor Kyle Davidson made a splash on the goaltender entrance when he signed Laurent Brossoit to a two-year contract on the primary day of free company. Brossoit has all the time performed in a backup function, beginning his profession in Edmonton after which shifting to Winnipeg, Las Vegas after which again to the Winnipeg Jets earlier than coming to Chicago.
Brossoit’s 2023-24 season with the Jets was one in every of his greatest, the place he performed in 23 video games and posted a .927 SV% and a 2.00 GAA. On the time of his signing, the 31-year-old indicated he’d prefer to push for a beginning function.
I feel it’s going to be a state of affairs the place we [him and Mrazek] can have a wholesome competitors and I can earn begins and check out show to the group that I is usually a bona fide starter. It was an ideal stepping stone for me to get to the last word objective of changing into a starter in the future.
(from ‘New Blackhawks goalie Laurent Brossoit wanting to show himself in bigger function’ – The Athletic – 07/18/2024).
The Blackhawks and their followers had excessive hopes for this tandem headed into the season, since final season’s again up, Soderblom, had a disappointing 2023-24 marketing campaign. However on Aug. 28, the Blackhawks introduced Brossoit will likely be out five-to-seven weeks after present process meniscus surgical procedure to his proper knee. That’s a giant blow for the Blackhawks, contemplating the goaltender will miss all of coaching camp and certain the start of the common season. The staff’s first sport is on Oct. 8 in Utah, precisely six weeks from Brossoit’s surgical procedure.
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As a matter of reality, the Blackhawk’s first 4 video games are on the street. So I wouldn’t anticipate to see Brossoit in internet till no less than Oct. 17, when the Hawks face the San Jose Sharks on the United Middle. Hopefully there gained’t be any lingering results from his surgical procedure, and Brossoit can complement and problem Mrazek in internet like he speaks to above.
A Probability at Redemption for Soderblom?
With Brossoit unlikely to begin the season, Soderblom is projected to get the nod as backup earlier than he finally heads to the Rockford IceHogs. He performed beforehand with the Blackhawks’ AHL staff in each the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. As talked about above, Soderblom’s 2023-24 marketing campaign with the massive membership didn’t prove as deliberate. As a substitute of difficult Mrazek for the beginning spot, Soderblom simply couldn’t appear to seek out his groove on the NHL stage. He solely suited up for 32 video games, posting a .879 SV% and a 3.92 GAA.
I’m certain the Swedish native sees this as his likelihood to redeem himself. In any case, the Blackhawks weren’t superb final season. That’s a tricky spot to place a younger goaltender into. With an improved staff this season, can he put up a couple of strong video games on the NHL stage? Then he might proceed to construct confidence and fine-tune his sport enjoying for the IceHogs. Moreover, one by no means is aware of what the season will convey. Accidents might think about and provides Soderblom much more of a chance. His present contract solely lasts by means of this season, so he’ll be seeking to earn one other contract, both in Chicago or elsewhere.
Commesso Can Compete
The final goaltender I’m going to the touch on at this time is prospect Drew Commesso, who the Blackhawks chosen within the second spherical (46th total) of the 2020 Draft. The 22-year-old had a promising rookie season with the IceHogs final season, posting a .906 SV% and a 2.65 GAA in 38 video games. He was additionally chosen over then fellow teammate Jaxson Stauber to play in three of the IceHogs’ 4 Calder Cup playoff video games, with strong totals of .915 SV% and a pair of.57 GAA.
As a matter of reality, Commesso was just lately ranked at No. 9 in The Athletic’s top-20 drafted goalie prospect rankings. (from ‘Prime 20 drafted NHL goalie prospects rating: Wallstedt, Askarov lead Wheeler’s summer time 2024 listing’, The Athletic – 7/17/2024).
His strengths embody consistency, sound method, and a poised demeanor. He and Soderblom will probably duke it out for taking part in time with the IceHogs this season, and will make for some nice competitors in internet.
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There’s a lot to like about goaltenders, who put themselves in hurt’s means night time after night time. It’s a singular place in hockey; one the place you may acquire all of the glory for profitable or all of the fault for dropping. These males within the crease needs to be celebrated, as we did this previous week for NHL Goaltenders Week. There’s a number of promise at this place for the Blackhawks as we sit up for the 2024-25 season.
