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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 utterly on board with this, seeing as this place is likely one of 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 in relation 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 provide 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 shrink back from their very own individuality. It’s all the time “we” and “the staff”. However goaltenders are distinctive in that they’ll specific 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 may need one of many hardest jobs on this planet. However at the very least they’ve this outlet to specific 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 share and a 3.05 objectives in opposition to common. He did this all regardless of a really porous protection in entrance of him and a a lot youthful Arvid Soderblom (25 years outdated) competing for a similar job.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 together with his teammates each on and off the ice. However we’ve realized just a few different tidbits about Mrazek just lately.
For one, he tied the knot over the summer time. What a ravishing 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, based on NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman in his current “32 Ideas”, the Czech native visited the luxurious watch Adudemars Piguet manufacturing unit/museum in Switzerland this offseason. He mentioned he was tremendous involved in how watches have 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.
Associated – Blackhawks Information & Rumors: Mrazek, Levshunov, Nazar & Extra
There you could have it! Mrazek can cease pucks, get married AND he’s an skilled 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 transferring 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 finest, 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 scenario the place we [him and Mrazek] can have a wholesome competitors and I can earn begins and take a look at show to the group that I generally is a bona fide starter. It was an ideal stepping stone for me to get to the last word purpose of turning into a starter at some point.
(from ‘New Blackhawks goalie Laurent Brossoit desirous 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 can 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 sure 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.
Associated – Meet the New Blackhawks: Laurent Brossoit
As a matter of reality, the Blackhawk’s first 4 video games are on the street. So I wouldn’t count on to see Brossoit in internet till at the very least Oct. 17, when the Hawks face the San Jose Sharks on the United Heart. 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 Likelihood at Redemption for Soderblom?
With Brossoit unlikely to start out 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 an alternative of difficult Mrazek for the beginning spot, Soderblom simply couldn’t appear to seek out his groove on the NHL degree. He solely suited up for 32 video games, posting a .879 SV% and a 3.92 GAA.
I’m positive the Swedish native sees this as his probability to redeem himself. In spite of everything, the Blackhawks weren’t superb final season. That’s a troublesome spot to place a younger goaltender into. With an improved staff this season, can he put up just a few strong video games on the NHL degree? Then he may proceed to construct confidence and fine-tune his sport taking part in for the IceHogs. Apart from, one by no means is aware of what the season will carry. Accidents may consider and provides Soderblom much more of a possibility. His present contract solely lasts by means of this season, so he’ll be trying to earn one other contract, both in Chicago or elsewhere.
Commesso Can Compete
The final goaltender I’m going to the touch on at the moment 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 couple 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 ‘High 20 drafted NHL goalie prospects rating: Wallstedt, Askarov lead Wheeler’s summer time 2024 listing’, The Athletic – 7/17/2024).
His strengths embrace consistency, sound method, and a poised demeanor. He and Soderblom will doubtless duke it out for enjoying time with the IceHogs this season, and may make for some nice competitors in internet.
Associated – Extra Blackhawks Season Preview Articles
There’s a lot to like about goaltenders, who put themselves in hurt’s manner evening after evening. It’s a singular place in hockey; one the place you’ll be able to achieve all of the glory for profitable or all of the fault for shedding. These males within the crease ought to be celebrated, as we did this previous week for NHL Goaltenders Week. There’s a whole lot of promise at this place for the Blackhawks as we look ahead to the 2024-25 season.
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