Chicago goalies are no strangers to pressure. When a game ends in defeat, it’s easy for players to point fingers—maybe it was a bad pass, a lack of stamina, or their goaltender having an off night. But in reality, shifting the blame does nothing to improve the team’s performance. Among all positions in hockey, goalies carry the most pressure, much like pitchers in baseball who have the pressure of the entire game with every pitch. For a goaltender, every save or miss can make or break the game, placing them at the heart of every play and under constant scrutiny.
Looking at Chicago’s Goalies
The Returners
Petr Mrázek
Before joining the Blackhawks, Petr Mrázek was a goaltender for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but injuries hurt his time there. His move to Chicago offered a fresh start, and despite injury setbacks, Mrázek has pushed himself beyond his limits with the Blackhawks. Recently re-signed, Mrázek said in November 2023 that he’s “the healthiest [he’s] been in five years.” Mrázek is dedicated to improving himself in the off-season, determined to excel as one of Chicago’s goalies.
When examining the trade history of Chicago goalies, it’s clear that this isn’t the first time key players have struggled with one team before finding a better fit through free agency or a trade. These goaltenders face intense scrutiny and are expected to perform at their best. For some, they are considered the glue that holds the team together, while for others, their success is measured purely by their GAA or save percentage.
For instance, Mrázek made 49 appearances this season, earning a 16-26-4 record with a 3.11 GAA and a .904 save percentage. While these stats can be interpreted differently, it’s clear the team faced challenges, which is normal. Every NHL team strives to be the best, but focusing solely on results can overlook growth. True success involves more than just winning; it’s about building mental resilience in the off-season and managing pressure effectively. When injuries occur, losing any player is concerning. The pressure increases when considering how to fill that position, the time needed to regain their routine, and how long they’ll be out. When key players like Mrázek work on these aspects, it can lead to noticeable improvements in their gameplay.
Arvid Söderblom
This upcoming season will be Söderblom’s third goalie season with the Blackhawks, the team he has been with since starting his NHL career. He exemplifies the ability to manage pressure, focusing on his experience and using time to enhance his skills. The Athletic highlighted Söderblom as a ‘vital source’ alongside Mrázek during his first full-time season in the NHL. Noting how he works with the Blackhawks goalie coach Jimmy Waite both on and off the ice. Together, they work to correct bad habits and build consistency. Which will be very important as he remains with the team.
Reflecting on his experience, the then 24-year-old Söderblom shared,
“It’s been fun. It’s a learning process coming in as a full-time NHLer. There will probably be some ups and down throughout this year, and throughout this career as well. That’s how it is. You just have to look at it and not be too emotional. Just see it for what it is, take it, and see it as a learning process. I’m enjoying being here.”
Roster Additions
Laurent Brossoit
Brossoit, who has bounced between two Canadien teams and the Vegas Golden Knights, is now set to join the Blackhawks on a two-year deal for the upcoming season. Over the course of his NHL career, Brossoit has played in 140 regular-season games, earning a record of 64-46-13. He’s posted a GAA of 2.64 and a save percentage of .911. In post-season games, Brossoit has appeared in 10 games, achieving a 5-2-0 record with a 3.13 GAA and an .890 save percentage. His recent performance includes eight games during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where he played a role in helping Vegas secure its first championship. It appears that he is eager to make a significant impact and be a valuable contributor to the Blackhawks.
Drew Commesso
Commesso is a new roster addition to the Blackhawks for the upcoming season. He spent last season with the AHL Rockford IceHogs, where he made history as the second IceHogs goaltender to record an assist in his debut game. Additionally, he represented Team USA at the 2022 Olympic Games, where he earned a 2-0-0 record, a 1.00 GAA, and a .964 SV%. Regardless of his playing time this season, Commesso is an impressive young talent joining. Learning from experienced Chicago goalies like Brossoit, Mrázek, and Söderblom will undoubtedly highlight the importance of both on-ice and off-ice development for him.
How Chicago Goalies Can Handle Pressure: Goaltending 101
When discussing the pressures faced by goalies, instead of delving into free agency or trade targets, it’s fundamental to recognize that a goaltender’s confidence often stems from their ability to counteract the opposing team’s strategies, such as shot selection and puck angles. This balance between decision-making and execution becomes especially vital during situations like the playoffs.
Though not a Chicago goalie, former netminder Cory Schneider, who retired last year, provided valuable insights from his playoff experiences with the Vancouver Canucks. Schneider shared,
“That’s the patience you learn, the more you play. When you’re feeling good about your game, when you’re seeing the puck and tracking, you can hold your feet longer, because you trust your hands and your reaction time.”
Even the most skilled players on a team can inadvertently create pressure for their goalies by strong puck possession, which may lead to distractions and loss of concentration in the crease. Corey Crawford, who spent his entire NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks, offers a case in point. Even after winning the Stanley Cup in 2013, Crawford faced challenges when his performance fell short of expectations. However, Crawford’s career wasn’t defined solely by success and victories. In sports, losing games is inevitable, and the real challenge lies in how players and teams learn from those experiences. According to Bleacher Report,
“A goalie who allows [stoppable shots] with frequency creates unnecessary pressure for his teammates and wears them down slowly. By preventing those leaky goals, Crawford’s teammates are gaining even more confidence in him and, most importantly, he doesn’t have to deal with self-doubt.”
Crawford even said,
“You can’t get ahead of yourself in this league,” Crawford said. “You can get yourself in trouble doing that. You just try to keep improving each day.”
Off-season Recovery
Like their teammates, goalies dedicate much of their off-season to building endurance and working on mental imagery with their goalie coaches. Imagery allows goalies to engage all five senses, mentally recreating game scenarios to enhance their performance. While this might seem unconventional, it significantly helps stabilize their mindset toward positivity. Athletes often struggle with the brain’s focus on the negative. By reinforcing positive thinking patterns, goalies can achieve quicker reaction times, improved performance, mental resilience, and more self-confidence.
Another aspect of off-season preparation is taking time to relax. Goalies, who often bear the pressure, benefit greatly from stepping back to analyze the sources of that pressure. Taking a moment to relax and work through challenges with a goalie coach or mental performance consultant can be incredibly valuable.
For the Chicago goalies, a new season brings fresh opportunities. The off-season is an important time to recognize strengths and transform weaknesses into assets. As Petr Mrázek noted,
“I knew that if I can be healthy, I can play at my best level, and personally, I can be happy with that.”
Main Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
