The Chicago Blackhawks’ season has been one rife with optimism. Connor Bedard seems to be delivering on the promise that comes with being a first-overall pick.
But amid the buzz surrounding the Blackhawks’ first exciting season in nearly a decade, one veteran could be heading out the door.
That veteran is netminder Laurent Brossoit. The Blackhawks signed Brossoit during the 2024 offseason to a two-year $6.6 million contract, hoping he could continue the success he had with the Winnipeg Jets. However, hip surgery caused the 32-year-old to miss the entire 2024-25 season.
Now, it appears Brossoit is ready to get back onto NHL ice. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Brossoit is ready to return to action. The Blackhawks assigned the veteran goalie to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs for a conditioning stint. Brossoit could see action this weekend, potentially signaling he’s ready to get back to the NHL.
Therein lies the problem for the Blackhawks. Chicago doesn’t really have room for him. As insider Elliotte Friedman noted, the Hawks might be willing to part with him for virtually nothing:
“Someone said to me, if you were willing to take the full number ($3.3m) for Laurent Brossoit… a late round pick or future considerations; if you’re asking for Chicago to retain…you’ll probably have to do a little bit more.”
Friedman’s comments on the December 2 edition of the FAN Hockey Show signal just how much Brossoit’s $3.3 million cap hit is getting in the way at the moment. Still, interested teams may be willing to take on the hit due to uncertain situations in the crease.
Blackhawks Have a Full Crease at the Moment
Spencer Knight has emerged as the Blackhawks’ no-doubt starter. After arriving from Florida in the Seth Jones trade, Knight has run with the opportunity to be a starter. That situation has eased the mind of GM Kyle Davidson.
Meanwhile, Arvid Soderblom has become a serviceable and much cheaper backup solution for the Blackhawks. While the Blackhawks could carry three goalies, they won’t likely do that. Chicago could shed the cap space while getting something in return.
But as Friedman stated, Chicago might be willing to let Brossoit go even for future considerations. In other words, the Hawks would be happy just to see Brossoit’s contract off their books.
It’s interesting to see the situation get to this point. But Chicago is actually doing something good for Brossoit. Instead of letting him languish as the team’s third-stringer, there might be a team out there willing to give him a shot.
Brossoit Is a Major Question Mark
Whenever players return from a significant injury or surgery, there are always questions surrounding their ability to perform at their former level. That’s the case with the Blackhawks’ goalie. Even if he has a successful conditioning stint, questions may linger about his durability.
Brossoit is coming off major surgery and might not be quite the goalie he once was. Perhaps he might still deliver some value to a team looking for insurance. But teams able to spare $3.3 million for a third-stringer are few.
Hopefully, Brossoit can find a team willing to give him a shot. He’ll be a UFA next summer, so a good showing could lead to one more NHL contract.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Blackhawks Could Be Giving Away this Veteran for Nothing appeared first on Heavy Sports.