Within 24 hours of the 2022 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks conversation has been overwhelmed by Alex DeBrincat trade rumors. But there are a lot of other items on rookie general manager Kyle Davidson’s plate heading into the draft.
One of the biggest issues he needs to address is the goaltending situation for next season. Arvid Söderblom is the only netminder with NHL experience under contract with the Blackhawks for next season, and that NHL experience is a whopping three (3) games.
In his pre-draft media availability on Wednesday afternoon, Davidson raised more than a few eyebrows when he gave a rather immediate timeline for some clarity on the goaltending position.
“I think that’s something that we’ll really get a much better handle on in the next 24, 48 hours on what direction we’re going to go,” Davidson said. “But [we have] a couple options, yeah.”
The next 24-48 hours?
So… during the draft?
Considering free agency doesn’t open up until July 13 (next Wednesday), clarity in the next two days would tend to indicate a trade of some sort is brewing to bring a veteran netminder into the fold.
We’ve heard Petr Mrazek‘s name mentioned a few times, and the Hawks would be doing Toronto a huge favor getting his albatross contract off their books.
Another name to keep in mind is Mackenzie Blackwood. The Devils have been rumored to want to sign Jack Campbell (who had been in Toronto) so dumping Blackwood’s contract (one year, $2.8 million cap hit) would certainly help New Jersey. And… you know, the Devils have been prominently linked to DeBrincat as well.
