Blackhawks Goaltender Arvid Soderblom Files for Salary Arbitration Ahead of 2025 Season

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom has elected to file for salary arbitration, joining 10 other NHL restricted free agents in seeking new contracts through the league's arbitration process. The Swedish netminder submitted his filing on Saturday, July 5, 2025, as announced by the NHL Players' Association.

Season Performance and Development

The 25-year-old Soderblom appeared in 36 games during the 2024-25 season, posting a 10-18-7 record with a .898 save percentage. While his statistics may not jump off the page, context is crucial when evaluating his performance. The Blackhawks endured a challenging season as part of their ongoing rebuild, making it difficult for any goaltender to post impressive numbers.

Despite the team's struggles, Soderblom showed considerable promise throughout the campaign and has been steadily developing as a reliable backup option. Hockey insiders suggest he's getting closer to potentially taking the next step in his career and could be in line to compete for the starting goaltender role in Chicago.

Arbitration Process and Timeline

By filing for arbitration, Soderblom is no longer eligible to receive offer sheets from rival teams, effectively limiting his options to either reaching a deal with Chicago or proceeding to an arbitration hearing. The hearings are scheduled to take place between July 20 and August 4, 2025.

In the arbitration process, an independent arbitrator can award either a one-year or a two-year contract to the player. However, most cases are typically resolved before reaching the actual hearing stage, with teams and players often finding common ground on new deals. Last offseason, only one player, Nashville Predators defenseman Spencer Stastney, was actually awarded a contract by an arbitrator following his hearing. The season prior, the Blackhawks went all the way to arbitration with Philipp Kurashev, ultimately resulting in the contract he had for the last two seasons. 

Soderblom and the Blackhawks can continue negotiating up until his arbitration hearing begins, leaving the door open for a mutually beneficial agreement.

Looking Ahead

The Goteborg, Sweden native has spent the past few seasons serving as a backup goaltender while honing his skills in the NHL. His development trajectory suggests he could play a larger role in the Blackhawks' future plans as they continue building around their young core.

For a franchise in the midst of a comprehensive rebuild, securing reliable goaltending at a reasonable price point is crucial.

The resolution of Soderblom's contract situation will likely provide insight into the Blackhawks' goaltending plans for the 2025-26 season and beyond.