Chicago Blackhawks 2025-26 Player Grades: Goaltenders

Spencer Knight, Chicago Blackhawks (Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images)

Chicago Blackhawks 2025-26 Player Grades: Goaltenders

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Gail Kauchak | Last updated Jul 30, 2026 8:55 AM ET

The Chicago Blackhawks finished their 2025-26 campaign 31st in the league, with a record of 29-39-14 and 72 points. It was an improvement from last season’s totals of 25-46-11 (61 points), but the organization had more progress in mind when they embarked on this campaign. The good news is the Blackhawks finished with more wins and more points than the previous season. They also feel they’ve taken positive strides in the growth and development of a plethora of young players, who could be a big part of a more successful future.

We’ve already given comprehensive assessments to all the Blackhawk’s forwards for the 2025-26 season, as well as the defensemen. The final part of our summer series is to hand out grades to the three goaltenders; starter Spencer Knight, backup Arvid Soderblom and fill-in Drew Commesso.

Here are links to each goalie grade, complete with player stats, a comprehensive season overview, quotes on each player and their final grade.

Spencer Knight

Spencer Knight’s 2025-26 Player Grade

Head coach Jeff Blashill on Knight being so level-headed, and how that affects the rest of the team.

Any time you have the emotional ups and downs and highs and lows that we’re going to have with a with a young team and a young defensive corps; as the goaltender, being able to just stay calm in the face of adversity is really important. And I think it’s important for all of us, but there’s certain positions where it really can show up, and he’s consistently done that. He hasn’t ever gotten too emotionally high, too emotionally low. He’s never let frustration become a big piece of what he’s about. He just kind has a really good attitude, kind of like our team has, I think, a lot of nights of learning from the game before moving on. And he exemplifies that.

Arvid Soderblom

Arvid Soderblom’s 2025-26 Player Grade

Soderblom on never being satisfied:

You gotta keep doing the stuff you’re doing every day. Just keep playing your game, even though you get a lot of shots and sometimes you might be a little tired. But then it’s even more important to just stay in there and keep battling, and just have the focus up all the way and not let the focus slip away.

Drew Commesso

Drew Commesso’s 2025-26 Player Grade

Commesso on always being prepared:

I think that’s just part of the job of always staying prepared. I don’t think my approach really changes, where I’m playing. Just prepare the best I can with the circumstances I’m given, and go and give my team a shot. So that’s really all that I can do at the end of the day.

Final Thoughts on Goaltending for the Blackhawks

The Blackhawks are in pretty good shape in between the pipes, both now and in the future. Knight is off to an excellent start as the No. 1 guy. Meanwhile, Commesso and Soderblom will push each other to be the best they can be. Soderblom will likely be the backup for one more season, but Commesso is knocking on the door. He’ll have the opportunity to progress with the Rockford IceHogs, while eying the backup spot for the 2027-28 campaign.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

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