Blackhawks preseason storylines revisited: Goaltending battles that weren't

The 25-year-old is one of the older players in the Blackhawk’s current youth movement, and he’s considered a leader in his own right. Ahead of his second preseason start on Sept. 26, I asked him the age-old question, “What’s your leadership style?” His response was very telling of what a leader should be, and that’s understanding that everyone plays a part.

“I mean, you have guys who maybe are more natural-born leaders, but honestly, I think our group is not like we look to one person and see them as the leader. I think everyone brings something to the table. I don't really think of it as like we have our leader. Like, yeah, we have obviously Bedard’s our captain, yeah, Kaner, everyone. But I think everyone brings something to the table, whether it's you know, someone's really funny or someone's really working hard and bringing everyone else to make their make them work hard. I think everyone kind of brings something to the table, and for me, I just try to bring a calm presence, I guess.”

Knight is certainly known for his calming presence, which he actually brought up one other time in our conversation. That goes a long way with a young defensive corps. The hope is that Knight can take yet another step in his journey to being an elite goalie this season. His workload could be even greater this season than last, and it will be important he remains consistent throughout.

Soderblom’s solid performance versus the Blues

Soderblom, on the other hand, did not fare as well as Knight did last season. His .880 SV% and 3.80 GAA average in 26 games wasn’t exactly stellar. However, he came up big a few times making a record amount of saves, and he also recorded his first career shutout.   

On a positive note, the 27-year-old was by far the best player for the Blackhawks in their third preseason game on Sept. 24 against the St. Louis Blues. Despite a 1-0 loss, Soderblom stopped 35-of-36 shots for a .972 save percentage. It was a solid night for Soderblom, and probably just what management needed to see to cement his spot as Knight’s backup.

Soderblom has served as the Blackhawk’s backup for the last three seasons, so there’s plenty of familiarity there. He’s also signed with the organization for one more season. From a business standpoint, it makes sense right now to keep Soderblom as the No. 2 guy behind Knight.

Commesso’s ready when called upon

However, many would argue that Commesso got the raw end of the deal by not having a chance to prove himself in training camp. The 24-year-old has served as the No. 1 netminder for the Rockford IceHogs for the three seasons, posting a solid combined .906 SV% and a 2.76 GAA in that span.

In the 2025-26 season, Commesso suited up for the Blackhawks for three contests. But in that small sample size he raised some eyebrows with an impressive .918 SV% and a 2.31 GAA. Many feel he’s NHL-ready, and a stronger option than Soderblom.

But it appears Commesso will have to be patient. He inked a new contract with the club in July, a two-year deal with a $875,000 annual cap hit. That opens him up to the become the backup for the Blackhawks next season, after Soderblom’s contract expires.

For his part, this driven young man is just waiting for his next opportunity. He spoke with myself and my colleague Brooke LoFurno at training camp about his mindset headed into the season.

"I think my mindset kind of stays the same. I know how good I am, and it's kind of just one of those things where I'm waiting for my opportunity. I know I'm ready, and yeah, I'm extremely confident in my game. The only really thing I can control is coming to the rink and putting my best effort, being a great teammate, and having fun on the ice. And I know that the results will take care of themselves. And yeah, it's an exciting time. I know if I just continue to work hard and follow God's plan, it'll all work out."

As expected, Commesso was assigned to the IceHogs on Sunday, Sept. 27. But he will obviously be the first call up if any unforeseen injuries or circumstances arise with Knight or Soderblom this season. It will be interesting to see how that all plays out. But either way, look for Commesso to be the No. 2 guy in the 2027-28 season.  

The goaltending situation appears to be set for the Blackhawks for the 2026-27 campaign, which starts on Sept. 29 versus the Vegas Golden Knights. Stay tuned for more on how the bottom-six forwards and the defensive corps has played out to start the season.